The eternally dirty city: Rome tops list of world’s filthiest towns

Rome has a rubbish problem so bad that some politicians are even calling for the military to help clear up the city, writes Sofia Barbarani from the Italian capital

Rubbish in the San Pietro neighbourhood of Rome (AGF/Universal Images Group/Getty)

It is one of the greatest cities in the world. And now Rome is also officially one of the dirtiest.

The Italian capital’s overflowing rubbish bins, unbridled rat population and acrid stench have finally earned it the top spot in a list of world’s dirtiest cities.

A poll by Time Out magazine of 27,000 city dwellers from across the globe listed Rome as the number one filthiest city, followed closely behind by New York and Glasgow.

Rome’s decades-old waste management problem has seen a stark deterioration in recent times.

Where there once were occasional piles of rubbish, pungent plastic bags now line whole swathes of the Unesco world heritage site, forcing sandal-clad tourists to watch where they’re going.

Scorching temperatures and the unwelcome presence of thousands of wild hogs have exacerbated the situation further, causing anger among locals.

Rome’s hotel federation Federalberghi on Sunday warned that they had already experienced a 20 to 30 per cent drop in hotel reservations because of the city’s decline.

Bins overflowing with rubbish in the Prati district earlier this month (AFP/Getty)

“Our institutions don’t realise how much it hurts our reputation when a photo is posted on social media of the streets of Rome with abandoned bins or wild boars,” Federalberghi vice president Roberto Necci told Il Messaggero newspaper. “Not only are many cancelling room reservations, but the flow of new bookings is slowing down day by day.”

After promising a swift clean-up of Rome during his campaign last year, Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri has been heavily criticised for driving the city into the ground, with some district governors calling for the military to intervene.

"This emergency requires an immediate leap in the quality of the response, it’s affecting the health and dignity of our communities, which are being subjected to this dramatic situation,” said Amedeo Chiaccheri, the head of district eight.

“Extraordinary measures should be put in place, including the army, to restore normality to this weakened city.”

Gualtieri on Monday told local media that Rome residents could expect to see improvements by next week but warned that it could take up to two years for the city to recover fully.

Amid the anger of some residents and the exasperation of visitors, Italy’s television personalities have also weighed in on the rubbish crisis.

On a trip to Rome last week Italian television presenter Simona Ventura took to Twitter to highlight the extent of the problem.

“After a few months, here I am in Rome,” wrote Ventura.

“Aside from the 32 degrees (perceived 50) it’s a unique city in full tourism boom (like the rest of Italy). Every corner takes your breath away! The garbage however is an embarrassment! Immediate solutions.”

Up to 10 million visit the Italian capital each year, the second most visited city after Paris in the European Union.

Among those enjoying Rome in recent days has been Gladiator film star Russell Crowe who has been tweeting about his visit to the city,