American Tourist Is Fined Nearly $500 For Eating and Drinking On Fountain Steps in Rome



An American tourist visiting Rome was fined hundreds of dollars after he was caught eating and drinking while sitting on one of the city’s fountains. The 55-year-old traveler was handed a €450 ($450.15) fine after he settled on the side of the Fontana dei Catecumeni and started to eat. Officers fined the man in an effort to maintain decorum and protect monumental fountains in the city. The fountain, which sits about a 15-minute walk from Rome’s famous Trevi Fountain, is made from travertine and was built around 1588 and then restored in 1997. Rome also bans street drinking, organizing pub crawls, and swimming in the city’s fountains. In addition, the city introduced a hefty fine for anyone caught sitting, eating, or drinking on the city’s Spanish Steps — once a popular and iconic spot to rest. Rome is not alone. Several cities in Italy have cracked down on over-tourism in recent years, fining visitors who break the rules.