Italy’s capital is the most popular tourist destination in the country. But unlike other European cities, Rome does not want to regulate tourism. This also has to do with the Romans’ peculiarities.
There is no way through the famous Trevi Fountain. Screaming like in a swimming pool drowns out the sound of the water. Police officers at the edge of the pool call the tourists to order with their whistles like lifeguards. This doesn’t help much. It’s too hot, too crowded, you have to sit down and dip your arms in the cool water, which is actually forbidden. The police officers can no longer cope with the onslaught. But this doesn’t unsettle them. One of them says he’s happy to turn a blind eye: “Rome is so beautiful, it’s obvious that everyone wants to come.”
The Romans love their city, and that’s why they understand why the rest of the world wants to visit Rome at least once in their lives. Because of the sun, the good food, the many monuments – and the Romans themselves, the policeman at the Trevi Fountain believes. Because of their inimitable manner: a little bit sloppy, a touch arrogant. It’s precisely this nonchalance that many visitors admire them for. But that’s also the problem: when tourists flood their city year after year, the Romans often react with a helpless shrug of the shoulders.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
