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Florence to Ban Outdoor Seating on 50 Historic-Center Streets Next Year

Officials cast the curbs as a heritage and livability measure, with final rules for four key squares due within 30 days.

Overview

  • The prohibition applies inside the UNESCO-protected center, with a blacklist that includes the Ponte Vecchio and the Piazzale degli Uffizi.
  • An additional 73 locations will face tighter controls on umbrellas, barriers and weather coverings.
  • Plastic weather enclosures will be phased out citywide, and restaurants may be asked to use grass-like green carpet to mark permitted areas.
  • Residents urge stricter caps on tables, while restaurateurs warn the curbs threaten revenues, with one owner saying 60 outdoor seats at her Piazza della Signoria restaurant are fundamental.
  • Outdoor dining grew after 2020 rule relaxations, and heritage experts argue the plan emphasizes aesthetics without remedying lax enforcement of existing limits.