Holding pieces of the orange netting that authorities place around potholes, fallen trees and dangerous pavements, the protesters rallied outside the city hall to condemn Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi for failing to address issues such as uncollected rubbish, inefficient transport services and potholed roads.
The protest comes just days after a horrific accident in which more than 20 people were injured when an escalator at Rome’s Repubblica metro station ran out of control, causing a mass pile-up at the bottom.
It also follows the discovery of the body of a 16-year-old girl in one of the city’s abandoned buildings.
Desirée Mariottini’s body was found on October 19, two days after she went missing.
The teenager was reportedly drugged and gang raped, and three men have been arrested for her murder.
Other issues include rats and wild boar running through the Eternal City’s streets.
Rome’s first female mayor, Raggi has been at the helm of the Italian capital since 2016.
The Five Star Movement (M5S) member represented a fresh start for Rome after both the traditional left and right-wing parties were seen to have failed at getting the city back on track.
However, she has struggled to take action and bring the city out of debt, leading its residents to start the hashtag #romadicebasta, or “Rome says enough”.
Raggi is also standing trial for allegedly lying about a council appointment, with a verdict due on November 10.
The mayor said if she’s found guilty, she will resign.
