"More beautiful, safer and more welcoming". Those were the guiding words of Rome's mayor Virginia Raggi when the Italian capital in November last year introduced new laws - hoping to create order in the public space. Among other things, it is now prohibited to drink alcohol in glass containers outdoors after 10 pm, to take a cooling dip in Rome's fountains or to make money from dressing up for a historical "gladiator" and taking selfies with happy visitors.

From € 250 in fines

It has been forbidden to eat lunch in the Spanish Steps, Italy's world-famous landmark, built in the 1720s. From July 8, it is now also forbidden to sit down and rest on the steps. It reports, among others, the news agency AP and the newspaper The Guardian.

This week, police were seen patrolling the stairs, whistling in whistling at people who defied or were unaware of the ban. In the worst case, a rest period on the Spanish stairs can result in thousands of dollars in fines, from 250 euros for just sitting on one of the stairs, to up to 400 euros for those who dirty or destroy the stairs, reports The Guardian.

Italian tourist: "A tired child sat down"

Simone Amorico, CEO of a company offering private tours in Rome, tells CNN that the law is necessary.

"The situation is about to derail," he says as a result of the tourist boom on the stairs.

But others think the law is unnecessary.

“This monument is so beautiful. There was a tired child sitting here before with his dad, and a traffic manager asked them to stand up, ”Italian tourist Tommaso Galletta told the AP.