A US tourist who decided to eat ice cream on the steps of one of the fountains in Rome at one in the morning was fined €450. It is reported by The Guardian.
A 55-year-old man, who also had a beer in his hands, was punished on Saturday, September 3, for violating a city rule banning fountains from being placed on the steps. This happened near the Fontana de Catekumeni in the Monti district, built-in 1589 to the design of the architect Battista Rusconi.
It is noted that on Friday evening the fountain was surrounded by barrier tape, but later it was removed. For this reason, the tourist did not know that it was forbidden to sit on the steps. He also did not pay attention to the appeal of him by the police, which led to the fact that the American was issued a fine.
As the tourist later stated, he was not aware that in 2017 the authorities of Rome forbade eating, drinking, and sitting on the steps of the fountains.
The ban is aimed at protecting historical structures from possible damage.