“From today, we’ll be experimenting with a very simple measure: pouring water over the church steps to clean the spaces, and hopefully discourage people from eating, drinking and making a mess there,” Nardella told The Local.
“If tourists want to sit there, they’ll get wet.
“Florence is full of cafes with outdoor seating, tables, and benches. The churches aren’t restaurants; they are religious and cultural sites.”
Nardella stressed that while he has no issues with tourists visiting Florence, he does have a problem with people disrespecting his city and its historic sites.
The mayor added that hosing down the steps was a much “kinder” measure than handing out hefty fines to people eating in historic areas, as is the case in Rome's recently restored Spanish Steps.
The steps of Florence’s Basilica di Santa Croce and Santo Spirito church will now be hosed down every day, and if the measure is successful in stopping tourists from sitting on them, it will be applied to other culturally significant sites and pavements across the city.
