Plan expected to meet opposition from traders

Rome has announced plans to move street traders from the city's most "precious" areas, according to new regulations approved by the capital and Italy's culture ministry.

The project would affect mobile sandwich bars and flower kiosks operating daily outside Rome's sites of archaeological and historic importance.

The areas in question include the Circus Maximus, the Roman Forum, Colosseum, Piazza Venezia, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, and the Tridente area, which incorporates Via del Corso, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna and the river Tiber.

Many of the traders are set to be moved to areas near to where they are currently based: for example those trading around the Colosseum and Circus Maximus will move to nearby Via S. Gregorio. Meanwhile the sandwich bars are destined to be stationed at various points along the Lungotevere. The proposal is expected to attract strong opposition, mainly from the powerful Tredicine family which owns the majority of the sandwich bars.

The controversial clan has political links and in the past has faced criminal investigations over its monopoly of the sector.

Silmilar changes to street trading were announced in 2012, under former mayor Gianni Alemanno, but never came to pass.

Photo Corriere della Sera