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STREET VENDORS IN ROME

Time may be running out for the hundreds of illegal street vendors who for years now have been clogging up Rome`s most famous streets and piazzas. The army of ambulanti abusivi - estimated at at least 1200, but who knows if that is accurate, and reportedly for the most part Senegalese, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshi, authorities say - are becoming the target of what may be the first serious crackdown in the Italian capital. In recent weeks, police have swooped in repeatedly in the some of the key areas, confiscating wares and checking documents. But Italian authorities are not known for their constancy so it is hard to know whether the crackdown will continue.

Every day these streetsellers invade Piazza di Spagna, Fontana di Trevi, piazza Navona, i Fori Imperiali, via della Conciliazione, Castel Sant`Angelo and contiguous streets to try to sell their wares, everything from counterfeit bags to fake watches, real carved elephants, roses, ethnic jewelry, sunglasses, t-shirts and scarves made in Asia to Romans and tourists alike.

         But recently, they`ve been constituting more than an eyesore, which is already bad enough. Last week a fight over "territory" broke out one evening at Fontana di Trevi between Senegalesi and Bangladeshi vendors frightening local restaurant clients and residents into hiding. And their flights from police has increasingly been endangering passersby, who risk being injured - as has already happened in Venice and in Florence - by the heavy bags and duffel bags in which the vendors carry their goods. Other times they use public property - streets, courtyards and even the basement of the city`s major hospital, the Policlinico (sic!) - to store their wares while avoiding police or breaking for lunch. All this is the result of years of permissiveness and inaction by city authorities in Rome and elsewhere and has turned some of the most beautiful cities in the world into illegal souks selling inferior merchandise.

        As a roman citizien I personally know something about this situation because I work every day in the city center of Rome as a Tour escort and they don’t even care if you are talking or explaining, they just interrupt everyone. Often the Bangladeshi vendors selling roses or umbrellas just put flowers in your face on in the hands of your clients and the only way they accept a “no” is if you are absolutely firm in telling them to leave.  When you are with your guide they will know how to handle the venders but we want you to be aware so you also know how to handle them when you are out on your own. 

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