Snacking in Italy

There's been a lot of discussion about it on various boards. We're going back in May, so I'll be able to report after that, but the way the new ordinance reads is that it's just enforced if you sit down on the steps or on the rim of a fountain WHILE EATING. It's to make the environment more pleasant for everyone, including other tourists. If you've ever had to step over all the bodies of other tourists who are sitting on the Spanish Steps, you'll know what I mean.

(I know slightly off topic). I had mentioned this to hubby and was kind of flabbergasted, until he reminded me when we were in Paris last month, went to visit Sacre Coeur at night...my God, the 'immigrants'(I'm guessing...don't kill me) selling beer by the bottle - the people sitting around drinking on the steps, the broken beer bottles and garbage everywhere - it was a real shame. Maybe Paris (and some other big cities) should follow this rule...I don't know about the huge fines tho...maybe gentle suggestion to not eat/drink and make a mess (or hopefully they use the fines in Rome to fix their crumbling monuments!)

Nicole, That's a good point. I was there last June in the early evening and it was the same scene. A couple of years ago I visited Parc Quell in Barcelona and it was inundated with immigrants who had set up their tarps with all sorts of cheap sunglasses, knock-off handbags, trinkets, etc., along with all sorts of panhandlers and street musicians. It made it difficult to even see much of what makes the park so special. But, at least it's a big park and it's expected that you can sit around and eat. So, maybe the idea of imposing some limitations on just sitting on steps and eating and drinking isn't such a bad idea.

I agree about the scene described by Nicole, on the steps of Sacre Coeur. It's a major hangout and party area at night and remnants from the parties are evident during the day also... not to mention vendors and street artists of all kinds. La Defense plaza and banks of the Seine are other hang out areas that I've noticed also though Montmartre seems to be the worst (most popular). I'm all for freedom and letting people hang out but they should send out more clean-up crews. It's not stopping me from going to any of these places however.

It seems that they're using this and similar ordinances as the way to get people to move on. They're not using it as an excuse to hand out tickets.

This isn't entirely new, Rome has been doing this for some time, but it does sound like they toughend the law or fines to give police more ability. So far, the point seems to be to stop people from camping out and making public sites their own picnic area/dining room. Fines will likely be focussed on people that spread out a meal, locals who should know better and those that refuse to comply with a friendly "move along..." There are parks in Paris that prohibit sitting on the grass...

This topic reminded me of this photo I took in the Forum back in 2008. The sign says Please Do Not Lean

lol re Paris and grass - in Versailles, I accidently stepped on the grass to take a pic of one of the fountains - that got a quick whistle from the saviors of the grass...I didn't even notice the keep off grass signs...strict! (Because grass is definitely not meant to be walked on - sheesh!!) :)

Nicole, that is funny - reminds me of the courtyard at the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. Beautiful courtyard, green and fountain in the center. On the grass there is a sign that forbids walking on it. But probably walking on this grass would help it! It is overrun with weeds!

Jill, the extra charge for sit-down service usually applies to bars/cafes with seating in a piazza. Restaurants with outside seating normally would have the same prices inside or outside.

I was in Rome last month and was not aware of this, until I read the article later. However, one of the major complaints I've heard about regarding sit down table service is the pricey cover charge. We stopped for lunch at a sidewalk pizzeria near the Colosseum, sat at a table and were served. The only charges on the bill were for the food & drinks we purchased...no extra charges were added.
And the price of the food & drinks wasn't extravagant, about what you would pay for the same thing here in the States.