McDonald’s banned from setting up at ancient Roman baths as officials rule it’s ‘disrespectful’ to serve burgers near historic monument
MCDONALD'S burgers won’t be served up at an ancient bath site in Rome – as officials say it would be disrespectful.
The fast food chain is barred from building an outlet near the third century Baths of Caracella, to “protect the wonders of Rome”, announced Culture Minister Alberto Bonisoli.
The mosaic-filled baths were named after the emperor Caracalla - who killed his younger brother to nab the throne, and ruled from A.D. 211-217.
McDonald’s has more than 40 outlets in the Italian capital, and hoped to build an outlet expected to cover 800 sq m (8,611 sq ft), in an ancient area where new construction must meet strict criteria to reflect historical tradition.
Its other restaurants in Rome are close to landmarks such as the Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps) and the Vatican - but not as yet in the heart of its revered ancient quarter.
McDonald's planned to transform a former garden centre into a new outlet, between the baths and the ancient Aurelian walls, a few hundred metres from the Coliseum and the Circus Maximus.
Bonisoli announced his decision to reject authorisation on Facebook, in support of city bosses who had loudly protested against the notion of serving burgers in the archaeological zone.
The wonders of Rome must be protected.
Mayor Virginia Raggi
Mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi praised his decision, saying: "We go forward with the culture minister to stop the fast food construction in the archaeological area of the Baths of Caracella.
";The wonders of Rome must be protected."
Not everyone was happy with the move though, with one man tweeting that the area is “surrounded by rubbish and stalls” and that it would be “better” to have the chain restaurant there, as “at least they keep it clean”.
Italy last year had the fourth highest number of McDonald’s restaurants in the European Union with 578 - behind only Germany, France and Britain - according to website statista.com.
That figure is despite a fruitless attempt by intellectuals and television personalities in 1986 to stop the opening of the first McDonald’s in the Piazza di Spagna, calling it an offence to Italy’s traditional food culture.
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In 2000, riot police were brought in to protect McDonald's restaurants after thousands of protesters gathered across 20 cities in Italy, chanting: "Better a day of tortellini than 100 days of hamburgers".
Blood from raw meat ended up splattered across the food chain's outlet windows as opponents tried to stop the building of more restaurants.
