Rome continues to enforce zero tolerance towards rowdy tourists
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Rome’s is enforcing it’s new ‘zero tolerance’ policy meaning among other things that anyone caught taking a dip in the fountains may be fined up to €450.
After a string of incidents in which people were caught jumping into the city’s fountains – many of which are protected historic monuments – Rome’s mayor has had enough.
“Our monuments must be respected and Rome’s historic fountains are not swimming pools”, mayor Virginia Raggi wrote on her Facebook and Twitter page and posted a video of a man dressed as an ancient Roman senator who was escorted out of the Trevi Fountain by police on Monday and fined 550 euros for the stunt.
I nostri monumenti vanno rispettati e le storiche fontane di Roma non sono piscine. Nelle immagini che vedete un agente di polizia locale è stato costretto ad entrare nella vasca della Fontana di Trevi per tirarlo fuori e multarlo: https://t.co/3D0HCwqfmLpic.twitter.com/pBaFe4mdHm
In the post, she pledged a “zero tolerance” approach to “anyone who offends the historical and artistic heritage of the city, which belongs to everyone.”
Fines for swimming in the fountains have been in place since 2015 bujt stricter new fountain-bathing ban was introduced this year as part of a raft of new laws intended to combat unruly behaviour in the city centre.
The fines, which are reduced if paid immediately, now range from €160 to €450 for those caught swimming in or climbing on Rome’s historic fountains.
There’s also a minimum fine of €400 for vandalising historic sites, monuments or churches, brought in to combat long-running problems with vandalism at sites like Rome’s Colosseum.
And it’s not just Rome. In Milan, a French tourist was charged recently after skinny-dipping in a fountain, while Venice has had to ban people from swimming in the canals.
Police in Venice this week have fined two German tourists who were caught making coffee on the steps of the Rialto bridge.
The backpackers, aged 32 and 35, were fined a total of €950 (£853) for preparing coffee on a travel cooker. They were also asked to leave the city.
Venice has introduced a law on a series of public order offences – including picnicking at certain sites and not wearing a shirt in public spaces.
