Rome mayor pledges more policing to avoid anti-social behaviour at Spanish Steps.

The newly-restored Spanish Steps are to reopen to the public on the morning of 23 September following an 18-month restoration whose €1.5 million cost was sponsored by luxury jeweller Bulgari.

The reopening is to be celebrated on the evening of 22 September by a special concert by the S. Cecilia orchestra, under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano.

Rome's mayor Virginia Raggi has visited the Spanish Steps after recent controversial comments by Bulgari chairman Paolo Bulgari, who recommended the prohibition of eating, drinking and sitting at the 18th-century staircase which he believes should be closed at night.

Mayor Raggi said the Baroque-style stairs, or Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti, would be monitored more closely to avoid anti-social behaviour, but that she didn't think it necessary for them to close at night.

The restoration involved cleaning and repairing the 136 travertine steps connecting Piazza di Spagna with the Trinità dei Monti church above.

The last major renovation of the popular tourist site took place in 1995.