Gladiators told to raise their game
Italy: Visitors to Rome have been ripped off for too long, say authorities
“Gladiators” who pose for tourists in Rome have been told they must form a professional trade association because they have been offering a poor service to visitors to the city.
As reported by News From Abroad last year, the gladiators have been accused of charging excessive prices to have their photos taken, and many have been criticised for carrying plastic swords, rather than the real thing.
Now the city authorities have decided that there will be no more than 100 “official” centurions, and they will be forced to work in fixed locations for fixed prices. And, according to today’s Daily Telegraph, there will also be a dress code covering new rules on what weapons should be carried.
The gladiators will most-likely be situated near the Colosseum, the main Roman Forum, and entrances to Metro stations. Rome’s councillor for commerce told the newspaper: “This is aimed at protecting the tourists, who too often are the prey of people whose only interest is to fleece them.”
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