In the village symbol of luxury Ligurian, Portofinoa new one entered into force municipal ordinance which prohibits, among other things, begging even if not harassing and the consumption of food sitting on the ground. The measure, signed by the mayor Matteo Viacava, will be valid until September 30th and aims to protect the tourist and exclusive vocation of the country.
Specifically, anyone who is surprised to ask for alms – even in an educated way and without the annoying passers -by and tourists – risks one administrative sanctionespecially if it does it in central areas, near the churches, in public parking lots or along the Molo Umberto I.
No more focaccia on the knees
Not only begging: the Municipality has decided to say enough to too “informal” scenes. Eat sandwiches or focaccia sitting on the sidewalks, benches, steps or directly on the pavement of the streets of the center it will be forbidden. The measure is part of a series of restrictions designed to prevent Portofino from becoming an “open -air picnic area” during the high season.
Among the prohibitions there are also the bivouacthat is, the stop prolongedly with blankets, backpacks and food, and it lie down on the ground or on the walls public. The stated goal is to maintain a certain urban decoration consistent with the image of a high -end location.
The costume outside the beach is prohibited
The regulation further shakes on tourists’ habits: it is time prohibited circular in swimwear, bare torso or barefoot in the streets of the center. Also the sound emissions they must cease by midnight and a halfin order not to disturb the quiet of the residents and guests of the luxury structures. Transgressors can be punished with a fine from 25 to 500 euros.
There is also to protect the dignity of people
The ordinance therefore reflects the intent of the Municipality to protect the “uniqueness of the territory“And to ensure that the village continues to represent a model of elegance and order. Those who do not respect the new rules risk savory fines. In short, in Portofino, the postcard must be maintained impeccable.
However, we cannot exempt ourselves from a reflection. Certainly the intent of preserve the decoration Urban is understandable, especially in a place like Portofino, where high -end tourism is the main economic engine. However, insert into the same package eat sandwiches sitting on the ground and people reduced to poverty who try to get to the end of the month, inevitably raises an ethical question.
Prohibiting the consumption of food on the street or shooting in costume may appear as one common senseuseful for guaranteeing order and cleaning. But the ban on beggar, even if it does not harass it risks becoming one form of social exclusion disguised as an urban regulation. In practice, the image is protected, not necessarily people.
It is right to ask tourists to cover themselves and not to treat the historic center as a picnic area, but criminalize the presence of the poor It means ignoring a real discomfort, not solving it. As if it were enough to move it elsewhere in order not to exist anymore. Portofino has chosen the path of elegant silence, but the risk is to transform an authentic village into an artificial showcase, where Everything that is removedeven if human.
