Rome bans tourists from sitting on its famous Spanish Steps with fines of up to £370

Rome bans tourists from sitting on its famous Spanish Steps with fines of up to £370 as critics denounce the ‘Fascist’ rule

  • Rome has banned tourists from sitting on the Spanish Steps in the city centre 
  • Rule-breakers risk being hit with fines of up to £370 if they are caught by police 
  • Art critic Vittorio Sgarbi branded the rule ‘Fascist’ and asked for it to be relaxed
  • It comes after jeweller Bulgari spent £1.4million to refurbish the steps 

Rome has banned tourists from sitting on its famous Spanish Steps in a move denounced as ‘Fascist’ by critics. 

The city has previously barred visitors from eating or drinking on the marble staircase, which leads from the church of Trinita de’ Monti down to Piazza di Spagna, but have now extended the rule to include sitting.

Rule-breakers face being fined up to £370, but opponents of the move – including art critic Vittorio Sgarbi – say it goes too far.

Tourists have been banned from sitting on Rome’s famous Spanish Steps in an attempt to preserve the UNESCO heritage site

Visitors had previously been barred from eating and drinking on the steps, but the rules have now been extended to include sitting - which critics have described as Fascist

Visitors had previously been barred from eating and drinking on the steps, but the rules have now been extended to include sitting – which critics have described as Fascist

Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: ‘The rule is excessive, almost Fascist. 

‘Of course the monument should be protected and people should not eat on the steps, but banning tourists from sitting down is really excessive.’  

Giuseppe Roscioli, the president of a local hoteliers association, added: ‘Tourists should be allowed to rest a bit after walking around the city.’ 

The landmark, made famous in the United States by the 1953 film ‘Roman Holiday’ starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, underwent a £1.4million renovation in 2016 financed by upmarket jeweller Bulgari.

A Police officer is pictured asking a woman not to sit on the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy, today

A Police officer is pictured asking a woman not to sit on the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy, today

The city has previously barred visitors from eating or drinking on the marble staircase, which leads from the church of Trinita de' Monti down to Piazza di Spagna, but have now extended the rule to include sitting

The city has previously barred visitors from eating or drinking on the marble staircase, which leads from the church of Trinita de’ Monti down to Piazza di Spagna, but have now extended the rule to include sitting

The 1953 film 'Roman Holiday' starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck famously featured the steps, and they are now visited by thousands of tourists each year

The 1953 film ‘Roman Holiday’ starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck famously featured the steps, and they are now visited by thousands of tourists each year

The marble had been discoloured by years of pollution but also caked in chewing gum and stained by wine and coffee spills.

The Steps, designed by architect Francesco de Sanctis between 1723 and 1726 and dominated by the Trinita dei Monti church at the top, are a UNESCO site.

Last month, two German tourists were fined 950 euros for making themselves a coffee on the steps of the famous Rialto bridge in Venice and asked to leave the city.

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