Romans woke up to a rare sight this morning: snow for the first time in six years, as freezing winds from Siberia — called the “Beast from the East” — move across Europe and cause a cold spell.

The result? Nuns throwing snowballs in front of basilicas, famous landmarks dusted in white, and citizens building a snowman wearing lipstick with makeup brushes for arms.

This week, the cold front from Russia is leading to higher power and gas prices, possible travel delays, and the rare incident of Iceland being warmer than the countries in the Mediterranean. According to Earther, a high-pressure region in Scandinavia is causing winds to circle around it in a clockwise direction, meaning that Russian winds are flowing over Europe.

The last time it snowed in Rome was in February 2012. On Monday, the temperature in Rome fell to 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). Keep in mind that the average high in Rome for February is about 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius).

In terms of snow, the capital city saw 4 inches (about 10 centimeters), according to Corriere della Sera, but it was enough to close schools and delay public transportation. A low of 21.2 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius) is supposed to last until Wednesday, but the snow should end today.

Here are some of the best shots from photo agencies, Twitter, and the family of Verge Science’s own Alessandra Potenza: