Ignazio Marino, the newest mayor of Rome, banned car traffic near the Colosseum, in an attempt to redefine Rome as the largest archaeological park in the world.
Rome is a busy city. The car traffic is crazier than Paris, and there are more cars per capita than many other European capitals to speak of. Yet Ignazio Marino defies local car lovers, in an attempt to make Rome more appealing to tourist, and to preserve its historical legacy undisturbed. The new mayor of Rome wants pedestrian areas around all major Roman monuments, and is trying to redefine Rome as the world’s largest archaeological park.
The mayor, who didn’t exactly ban all motorized traffic, still buses and taxis to cruise around the Colosseum, hopes that his measure will reduce pollution in the city as well.
The problem with the decision, however, is that it will cause numerous traffic jams, as domestic car drivers will have to choose alternative routes to get to work, or wherever else they need to drive quickly.
For travellers, the measure is more than welcome: they will be able to admire the monumental structure undisturbed by motorized traffic.