Protests and traffic disrupt city

Rome is bracing itself for what is known colloquially as a venerdì nero, or Black Friday, due to a national strike called by most of Italy's trade unions. Three of the main union confederations - CGIL, UIL and UGL - have called out their members, but not the middle-of-the-road CISL.

Despite the disactivation of daytime limited traffic zone (ZTL) in the city centre and Trastevere, Rome's commuters can expect traffic chaos as public transport workers strike from 09.00-17.00.

Unions have bused in protesters from across the region to attend a major demonstration departing from Piazza Esquilino at 09.00 and making its way to Piazza S. Apostoli close to Piazza Venezia.

The route will take the march down Via Cavour and along Via dei Fori Imperiali. 

Among the protestors are taxi drivers in their cabs, hospital porters in ambulances and agricultural workers in tractors.

In addition schools, public offices and factories are closed and rubbish is not being collected, while a strike by air traffic controllers is affecting flights throughout the country.

For full traffic updates see Muoversi a Roma website.