Psst...don't tell, but this is Rome

Link : http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041020/od_uk_nm/oukoe_odd_italy_tourists&e=4


ROME (Reuters) - Swimming is already out for tourists visiting Rome's Trevi Fountain, but an Italian woman was surprised to discover so was pointing out the sights at the landmark made famous by screen diva Anita Ekberg.



The woman, showing friends the highlights of the fountain immortalised by a frolicking Ekberg in the 1960 film "La Dolce Vita", was fined for breaking a law against unauthorised guides, the local Messaggero newspaper reported on Wednesday.


She was fined 172 euros (120 pounds) for "pointing out the historic and artistic beauty of the Trevi Fountain to a group of Italian tourists without authorisation", the newspaper said.


Giovanna Pizzorno told the paper she was just showing a group of friends the fountain, but police said she was standing in for a professional guide, and breaking a 1985 law that bans unauthorised guides in a bid to uphold the quality and livelihoods of professionals who have to sit exams to get a licence.


A special undercover police unit regularly patrols Rome's top tourist sites, including the Colosseum and the Forum, to trap unlicenced tour guides. Police issue around 1,000 fines a year to those breaking the law.


Although the police should fine only people taking money for their services, the newspaper warned friendly Romans to check they are not being watched before offering visitors the benefit of their local knowledge on the city's world famous monuments.


"If a Japanese couple stop you and challenge your faltering English to tell them something about the Spanish steps, just tell them 'I don't know'," the paper advised its readers.