Rome’s new mayor BANS tourists from taking pictures with THIS
COMPLAINTS from tourists have fuelled this gladiator ousting.
They lure the tourist crowds but can be dangerous... and costly
Rome’s new mayor Virginia Raggi has passed a ban on centurion costumes in the city.
Men clad in gladiator gear who pose at busy tourist attractions are no longer allowed to work.
The centurions take photos with tourists and sometimes charge them hefty fees.
Travellers have complained of being charged up to €50 and even having money stolen from them.
Centurion-dressed men charge tourists up to €50 for photo souvenirs
One worker was caught on camera stealing €100 from a Romanian journalist’s wallet.
There have also been some reports of female tourists being groped by the armour-wearing men.
Dressed in leather sandals and shiny helmets, the ancient soldiers can earn up to €2000 each week.
Rome’s interim mayor Francesco Paolo Tronca had banned the centurions in November but the edict ran out in June.
Costumed soldiers often work outside the famed Pantheon
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Gladiators started reappearing at famous sites like the Colosseum and the Pantheon almost instantly.
Now the edict has been passed again, the men face fines of up to €400 if they’re caught.
Raggi made the announcement on Facebook after the ban was passed.
The post said: “Rome is finally off and running! From tomorrow, a new ordinance will impose sanctions of up to €400 against the photo gladiators.”
The soldier-costumed workers now face up to €400 fines if they're caught out
But the gladiators believe they’re being treated unfairly and some say they will have to start begging if they can’t do their job.
Centurions have stopped some acts of petty crime in busy areas in the past.
Rome is one of the pickpocketing capitals of the world - with sites like The Spanish Steps and The Trevi Fountain brimming with tourists.
But it’s the Colosseum where most cameras, mobile phones and wallets are stolen.