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Tourists Can Now Be Fined €500 For Eating A Sandwich In Florence

Sept. 04, 2018
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2 min read
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Tourists Can Now Be Fined €500 For Eating A Sandwich In Florence
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Snacking on a sandwich in Florence could possibly cost you €500. A new ordinance was put into effect today that bans eating on certain streets and plazas from 12:00-3:00pm and 6:00-10:00pm. Tourists and locals alike can be fined anywhere between €150 and €500 if they're caught eating while either standing on the sidewalk or sitting on the curb.

Posters distributed by the City of Florence indicate that it is forbidden to loiter or eat any kind of food on the sidewalks or doorsteps of shops and houses on Via de'Neri, Via della Ninna, Piazzale degli Uffizi or Piazza del Grano. The posters, written in Italian and English, were distributed to local businesses to display in their windows to warn of the new war on sandwiches. The ban was placed on the streets and piazzas that surround a popular panini spot, All' Antico Vinaio, which frequently has tourists queuing out the door.

Posters urge visitors to "respect residents, traders and workers of this street." The ban comes after residents demanded action to be taken on visitors who eat and leave their mess behind.

President of the Via de 'Neri committee, Roberta Pieraccioni, told Florence based newspaper, La Nazione, that volunteers of the National Observatory for Urban Security will patrol the area from Thursday to Sunday, during lunch time to report violators of the ordinance. Pieraccioni hopes that the ban will prevent the "hit and run" done by tourists who lack the respect that the local businesses and residents deserve.

The ordinance will remain in effect until January 6, when the ban will be reassessed for effectiveness.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.