Prohibition of outdoor dining
“Obstacle”: Florence takes action against tourists
Updated 11/20/2025 – 11:50Reading time: 2 minutes
Enjoy the street views of historic downtown Florence with an Aperol Spritz? This will be history since 2026 because of the new policy.
Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, a city full of art, culture and impressive architecture. But in the historic city center, tourists stumble not only on themselves, but also on tables, chairs, terraces and menu boards.
Despite enjoying alcoholic beverages outdoors, many local residents are bothered by “obstacles”, as stated by various media reports. But that will change. Starting in 2026, the outdoor areas of bars will be history. As the portal “florencedailynews.com” reports, terraces and similar structures will be prohibited in a total of 50 streets or locations in the historic city center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These include Ponte Vecchio, Via Roma and Uffizi.
Outdoor areas will be permitted on more than 70 other streets, but will be more strictly regulated in the future. They are divided into various categories – from A (just a table and chairs with a small umbrella) to D (enclosed and enclosed structures). Intermediate category B1 allows partial roofing with transparent sidewalls during winter.
The decision is part of an agreement between the city of Florence and the Inspectorate of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape. The move aims to protect the city’s artistic and architectural heritage and ensure a more balanced use of public space.
These new restrictions mean changes not only for tourists, but especially for restaurant and cafe operators. One restaurant owner told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: “We have sixty seats outdoors, which is important for our business.” Others accused those responsible of prioritizing aesthetics “over the survival of the entrepreneurs who shape city life.”
