Collected by the police: tourist has to pay a fine of 450 euros for eating ice cream in Rome
450 euros fine for eating ice cream: An American tourist was asked to pay properly in Rome. Armed with beer and gelato, he made himself comfortable at a fountain – and had to pay. If you don’t know the rules as a tourist, you’ll quickly lose hundreds of euros.
It was probably the most expensive ice cream of his life that an American tourist ate in Rome. There was a fine of 450 euros for the cool enjoyment at the Catecumeni fountain north of the Colosseum. The newspaper “La Republica” made the case public, which happened on August 3rd.
The American’s offense: He settled down comfortably with ice cream and beer near the fountain – but that’s strictly forbidden. The Italian police are said to have approached the man, but the tourist did not respond. According to the newspaper, the man, who wants to remain anonymous, switched to defense: “I didn’t know the rules. I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to sit there. I didn’t understand what the (police officers) said to me.”
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Expensive ice cream enjoyment: Tourists have to pay a fine of 450 euros in Rome
Recently, the city of Rome tightened the penalties to protect the city’s well-known landmarks and squares from the tourist crowds. For example, “immodest eating” near historical monuments has been banned since 2019. It can also be expensive when men run around shirtless, tourists bathe in fountains or attach “love locks” to bridges or gates.
The American isn’t the first tourist in Italy to be asked to pay: In June, four German vacationers are said to have arrived Paid 4200 euros for having a picnic at a historic spring in Venice. It is unclear whether ice and beer were involved.
More about bad tourist traps in Italy:
950 euros for making coffee! Tourist traps that vacationers in Italy should know
You could soon get up to 3000 euros extra from your employer
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