Rome bans people sitting down on famous landmarks

The ordinance also applies to other landmarks in Rome

The Spanish Steps are a key tourist attraction in the city (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Rome officials have started to enforce the ban that restricts tourists from sitting on the city's famous landmarks.

Police have started implementing a law that forbids Italians and tourists from sitting on protected monuments like the Spanish Steps, one of the Italian capital's many Unesco World Heritage Sites and a popular tourist attraction.

According to Associated Press, police officers dressed in yellow vests have been seen telling people to stand up this week.

A ban, which came into effect in June, warned that sitting, eating or drinking on the steps carried a fine of up to €400 (£370).

The ordinance also applies to other protected sites in Rome, such as the Trevi Fountain.

Rome has long been cracking down on bad tourist behaviour, with a slew of new rules introduced that cover everything from public snacking to drinking from water fountains.

The Italian capital has outlawed men going topless in public and the practice of attaching “love padlocks” to bridges, both of which carry a fine if contravened.

Eating messy foods around popular tourist attractions such as the Trevi Fountain is also a no-no according to the new regulations, as is touching your lips against the spout when drinking from Roman public water fountains.

Last month, two tourists were fined €950 (£854) and ordered to leave Venice for making coffee next to the Rialto bridge.

The backpackers, a man and a woman in their 30s, were arrested by local police after a resident spotted them sitting on the steps using a camping stove.