When in Rome, DON’T do as the Romans

Rome, one of the most popular cruise centres of the Mediterranean, has just launched a raft of new regulations that ban loutish behaviour among its many visitors.

It used to be said that, when in Rome do as the Romans. Today, you need to do as the Mayor and the City Council tell you. Eating snacks, wheeling suitcases in historic monuments like the Spanish Steps and bathing in the city’s many fountains all now attract a hefty fine. As do jumping in historic fountains, being seen in public bare-chested and sucking on public water fountains. Remember those amazing photo-ops with local touts dressed as Roman gladiators, armed with plastic swords, plumed helmets and faux-ancient breastplates? They are now banned from their habitual habitats: the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain. According to the London Telegraph, “Touching the spout of public fountains with your lips is now banned”. The acceptable way is to place a finger beneath the mouth of the spout producing an arc of water that is easy to drink. A bit like a Sydney bubbler. Fancy some pizza? Well, just don’t drop any tomato sauce or mozzarella on the marble monuments. Men can expect a fine if they are caught strolling around bare-chested, while the popular practice of attaching “love padlocks” to monuments will also attract a fine. “Rome is, and always will be, welcoming, but that does not mean tolerating bad behaviour and damage being done to our city,” says Virginia Raggi, the mayor of Rome. The ban is in place until 31 October. Anyone breaking the rules will be fined up to €240