Rome's mayor Ignazio Marino on
Tuesday launched an initiative to clean up 50 of the most
prominent fountains in the Italian capital, including well-known
monuments in front of the Spanish Steps and on the Janiculum
hill.
The "Clean Fountains" operation will run until September 30
and is set to cost 50,000 euros.
"Rome has the luck of having dozens of historic fountains
and we have decided to restore the top 50," Marino said.
"We want to make our city increasingly beautiful and the
fountains play a role in decorum and in the welcoming of
tourists," he said.
He also said he would propose increasing fines for people
who dump rubbish or jump into historic fountains in the centre.
Earlier this year fans of Dutch soccer team Feyenoord
wreaked havoc around the Spanish Steps and damaged the famed
Barcaccia fountain, by Renaissance master Bernini.
Marino has been under fire recently for his city management
skills following several international media reports about
degradation, disorganisation and corruption in the Italian
capital.
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