When in Rome, sitting outside a café enjoying the view is a wonderful way to take in the city.
But plans are afoot to change all that by restricting the number of tables available for outside dining, after complaints by locals.
According to the BBC News website, city officials say the café culture is ruining the city by spoiling views of famous historical landmarks and are drawing up plans to fine those who fail to take action.
Gerrano Farina, heritage director at Rome’s city council, is quoted as saying: “It has unfortunately become a big problem. There are too many historical piazzas where the monuments are hidden by hundreds of outdoor cafes and thousands of umbrellas. We don’t want to remove all of them but tourists – and Italians – who want to see Rome simply can’t see it!”
She reportedly added: “We are studying each piazza to make an exact map of permitted seating areas that don’t obstruct the monuments. If restaurant owners don’t respect the rules, we will have to fine them. The police can inspect each piazza with our maps and remove illegal tables.”
The BBC quotes one British pair of tourists as saying: “These cafes really bring the place to life; I love sitting in them. They definitely shouldn’t remove the brollies – it would really spoil the atmosphere.”
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
