Rome bans ‘messy eating’ in spate of new tourism rules

Italian ice - cream cone held in hand on the background of Piazza Navona in Rome , Italy

Tourists visiting Rome will need to mind their outdoor table manners or risk a serious fine under a spate of new rules introduced in the Italian capital last week.

As part of an Italian-wide effort to manage tourism, the new rules seek to discourage anti-social behaviour like messy eating outside monuments, dragging suitcases down historic steps and placing your mouth around the metal spout on fountains (which, if you ask us, is pretty bloody gross anyway).

Many tourists around the Fontana Di Trevi fountain at the Piazza Di Trevi.

Rome’s city council introduced the rules as an update to existing legislation that dates back to 1946 with aims to improve city life for both residents and tourists, according to Lonely Planet.

Penalties will also be introduced for jumping in water fountains, walking around bare-chested, attaching ‘love padlocks’ to bridges and singing or busking on public transport.

The city is also cracking down on illegal street-trading and ticket-touting outside tourist sites, banning organised pub crawls and advertising “skip-the-line” tours outside monuments.

There is no word yet on how these new rules will be imposed or what the fines will look like, but Lonely Planet reported police will now be patrolling historic sites.

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]