In Florence, if you don't consume at a bar, you are banned from much of the historic center at night


In Florence, off from today to an ordinance that will cause much discussion: under the guise of dispersing gatherings, on weekend nights prohibited much of the historic center unless consumed while sitting at a bar.

Do you want to take an evening or weekend night stroll through Florence’s historic center to see some of the city’s major monuments under the stars? From today, June 25, 2021, you can no longer, unless you want to sit at a bar to consume. In fact, with the excuse of dispersing assemblages, the City of Florence issued an ordinance the day before yesterday, signed by Mayor DarioNardella, prohibiting “parking” and transit in several areas of the historic center from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. People will be allowed to pass only to go to the bar (strictly sitting at the table), to return home, or to go somewhere else. In some cases, however, the ban is without limits of days and times: it applies, for example, to the churchyard of the basilica of Santo Spirito, where a few days ago a disputed cordon was installed, but was immediately destroyed during a protest demonstration.

The ordinance affects several areas of the historic center: for example, theentire Piazza Santo Spirito, Piazza Sant’Ambrogio and Via Pietrapiana, Via Giuseppe Verdi, Piazza Strozzi, Via di Calimala between Via di Porta Rossa and Piazza della Repubblica, the section of Via dei Lamberti between Via Pellicceria and Via di Calimala, Via dei Cavalieri, and three of the most beautiful Florentine squares, namely Piazza Santa Croce, Piazza Santissima Annunziata and Piazza San Lorenzo. Access restrictions come into effect in these areas from tonight, which, reads an official note from the City of Florence, entail “the prohibition of parking for people, except for waiting in line in order to gain access to public establishments and businesses that are legitimately open in compliance with the minimum interpersonal distances, and except for the presence at the table in the spaces in use by public establishments of food and beverage administration; the possibility of crossing only to access public establishments and businesses that are legitimately open, as well as private homes and public and private offices included in the area, and for the outflow from the area; the prohibition of the consumption of alcoholic beverages, except for that made at the counter and at the table in the spaces in use by public establishments serving food and beverages.”

In short: do you want to stop in Piazza Santa Croce to see the facade of the basilica at night, or do you want to linger over the details of Pietro Tacca’s fountains in Piazza della Santissima Annunziata without getting hit by the scorching sun during the day? This is no longer possible on weekends: you will only be able to access these areas to go to the bar to consume, or to cross them to go somewhere else. Violation of the prohibitions is punishable by an administrative fine of 400 to 1,000 euros.

“Clear rules for the livability of our streets and squares,” said Councillor for Safety Benedetta Albanese, “with a presence on the territory of law enforcement and widespread controls. With this ordinance we want to ensure that everyone can experience public spaces in a safe manner by finding a balance between different needs starting with the still ongoing health prevention that involves the need to avoid situations of contagion. This is a big commitment of the municipal police and law enforcement. If we all respect the rules, we can reconcile the protection of the right to quiet, the necessary urban security and the right to experience the squares. These are measures also aimed at verifying the ’sustainability’ of the flows and which can be remodeled, possibly mitigated, because of the response.”

In the coming hours, the Florence Municipal Police will define with its own measures the organizational measures and operational methods necessary to fully implement this ordinance, according to what was agreed within the technical table coordinated by the Questore of Florence. Municipal employees and volunteers from the civil protection system, as well as stewards and personnel from outside firms working for city mobility management, may be used for installation activities, as well as information and routing to facilitate access or outflow of people. Finally, the municipality has let it be known that it is working on some cultural initiatives on the parvis of the Basilica of Santo Spirito that will be presented in the coming days. But certain is that this ordinance will only raise new protests.

In Florence, if you don't consume at a bar, you are banned from much of the historic center at night
In Florence, if you don't consume at a bar, you are banned from much of the historic center at night


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