There should be fewer tables and umbrellas in Piazza Navona from 23 July according to new regulations passed in April by the city government.

Places to eat and drink should be limited to the pavements in front of the numerous bars and restaurants in the square and not set up along the walkways in the square itself, nor in front of the historic shops that open on to Piazza Navona.

If the regulations are enforced it will mean that there will be about half the present number of places available.

The new rules also attempt to reduce the crowd of artists in the middle of the square and implement a system to allow newcomers a chance to show their works of art.

Numerous appeals have been made against the new regulations but meanwhile they are legally in force, although critics of the overcrowding in the square point out that previous efforts to enforce similar regulations have always failed.