(6 Sep 2018) The tourist magnet of Florence is cracking down on visitors who eat on pavements, doorsteps or driveways during lunch or dinner time.
Mayor Dario Nardella has said that a new law, calling for fines of up to 500 euros (575 US dollars), aims to combat “boorish tourists”.
The law, which came into effect this week, applies to certain streets in the Renaissance city from noon to 3 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
It will remain in force until January 6, 2019 – the end of the Italian Christmas holiday season.
Among the Florentine streets is Via de’ Neri where, in August, there was a scuffle between an owner of a leather shop and a Spanish family, who was eating sandwiches on his doorstep.
Via de Neri is only a few minutes away from the Uffizi Gallery – one of the most important Italian museums – and it’s very popular among tourists thanks to “All’Antico Vinaio”, considered one of the best street food shops in Florence.
Almost every day tourists and Florentines line up to buy typical Florentine sandwiches and panini, and since there isn’t enough room to accommodate all the customers inside, people are used to sitting on other shops’ doorsteps.
Daniele Mazzanti, owner of “L’Antico Vinaio”, who has one restaurant and three sandwich shops in Via de Neri, is in favour of the new law.
This isn’t the first time that Mayor Nardella has tried to discourage tourists from eating on pavements in the city centre; last year, Florentine authorities started to hose down the steps of the most important churches to prevent people from sitting and eating on them.
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