Tourists can no longer eat around many of the monuments in the ‘centro storico’ or historic centre of the Eternal City

If you’re visiting Rome sometime soon, make sure that you don’t find yourself eating a slice of pizza sitting around any of its popular sites. The city has passed an ordinance forbidding visitors to eat, drink or “camp out” near the Italian capital’s historic monuments.

According to news reports, the new regulation issued by the Rome City Council bans people from eating snacks like sandwiches, panini, pizza and gelato at several of the city’s monuments and architectural treasures. The attractions on the list include the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and the marble fountains of Piazza Navona. The ordinance adopted by the council reads, “It is forbidden to encamp or erect makeshift shelters and stop to eat or drink in zones which have a particular historic or architectural value.” The decree was signed by Rome’s Mayor Gianni Alemanno on October 1 came into effect on Tuesday and will be effective until the end of the year. Anyone found violating the ban risks a fine, which can range anywhere from €25 to €500.

The historic centre in Rome are always packed with visitors, especially places like the piazza in front of the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps, where tourists sit around, often eating and drinking. The restrictions that have been imposed are meant to restore “respect” for the city and ensure that “the most elementary norms of urban decorum” are maintained. With Rome taking the lead in trying to protect its historic places, maybe it’s time for India and especially Delhi to mull similar bans.