Rome bans souvenir stands around its famous sites; find out why

Your street shopping in Rome experience could change forever as the city has now banned souvenir stands located near its famous sites. Not only souvenir stands, but snack carts are also going to be banned in the city. These sites include places such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish steps. According to reports, 17 of these stalls are being closed down, and only eight of them are allowed to remain open.
The ban has been put in place in order to protect the heritage of Rome, according to the city’s mayor, Virginia Raggi. The crowd surrounding such stalls can dampen the experience for a lot of travellers, and significantly reduces the importance and beauty of the sites. However, some of us do like to buy souvenirs and tiny replicas of these heritage buildings. The ban was put in place on January 1, 2020, and is supposedly going to save Rome’s reputation from getting ruined.


According to the Mayor, "For years, the monuments of the city have been tarnished by vendors who sell drinks, panini and trinkets in front of Rome’s architectural jewels. This is no longer tolerable."
Recently, Rome has taken some steps in order to clear the cluster and help travellers get a better experience of the place. You cannot sit on the Spanish steps anymore; you cannot walk bare-chested; eat near the popular heritage sites of the city; and more.