Rome Cracks Down On Café Tables In Historic Centre Piazzas

The Italian capital is establishing quotas regarding the number of tables bars, restaurants and cafés in the historic centre can have. The council says this is because the five main squares are overflowing with tables. Council leader Stefano Marin told NBC News: “We had reached a rupture point: some areas were totally occupied by tables. The new rules will allow the rapid passage of ambulances and people will be able to walk freely along the streets.” The centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the local authority believe the proliferation of tables causes problems regarding safety and decorum, and that their umbrellas obstruct views of monuments like the Pantheon. The rules have been introduced after an ongoing debate about what has been described as an invasion of “wild” tables outside eating and drinking establishments that have taken over the centre’s squares along with benches, chairs, plants, flower boxes, electric and gas valves, and plastic curtains. The legislation has caused concern among some café, restaurant and bar owners, who have expressed concern that they may struggle to survive if they have to reduce the number of outside tables and hence face a possible reduction in profits. Some businesses are also suffering because of the economic crisis. The council has also banned street artists from performing in various streets and squares in the historic centre.