Florence is a major drawcard for tourists in Tuscany, a beautiful and historic city that is best enjoyed off peak.
Over the summer season it can unbearably crowded.
But now the Italian city is moving to limit one of its key drawcards - wining and dining al fresco in the old quarter.
Florence wants to restrict outdoor dining across large parts of its historic centre, hoping to rein in the impacts of mass tourism and restore public spaces to residents, travel news hub Travel Mole reports.
Under new regulations approved by the municipality in coordination with Italy’s cultural heritage authorities at the end of last year, outdoor dining structures will be banned on around 50 streets within the UNESCO-listed historic core. See https://www.visitflorence.com/
The affected areas are mainly narrow, high-traffic streets where tables, chairs, umbrellas and barriers have increasingly clogged pedestrian routes and obscured views of historic buildings.
In addition to the outright ban, stricter limitations will apply to more than 70 other locations, where restaurants may still be allowed outdoor seating but with tighter controls on size, layout and the use of coverings or fixed structures.
The goal, city officials say, is not to eliminate outdoor dining entirely but to restore balance in areas that have become overwhelmed.
The measures are scheduled to take effect in early 2026, although the city has not yet announced a precise start date.
A transition period has been built in to allow businesses time to adapt. Existing permits for outdoor dining structures must be reviewed or renewed under the new rules by mid-March 2026, effectively setting a practical deadline for compliance.
Florence’s city hall says the decision responds to long-standing complaints from residents who argue that some streets have turned into “open-air dining corridors,” making daily life difficult and eroding the character of the historic centre.
Officials also point to the need to safeguard Florence’s architectural heritage and ensure unobstructed views of iconic landmarks.
The ban will not apply uniformly across the city. Wider streets and larger piazzas, as well as areas outside the historic core, are expected to retain some form of outdoor dining.
Heritage advocates and resident groups have welcomed the move as overdue, while many restaurant owners warn it could hurt revenues, particularly during peak tourist seasons when outdoor tables are most profitable.
But now the Italian city is moving to limit one of its key drawcards - wining and dining al fresco in the old quarter.
Florence wants to restrict outdoor dining across large parts of its historic centre, hoping to rein in the impacts of mass tourism and restore public spaces to residents, travel news hub Travel Mole reports.
Under new regulations approved by the municipality in coordination with Italy’s cultural heritage authorities at the end of last year, outdoor dining structures will be banned on around 50 streets within the UNESCO-listed historic core. See https://www.visitflorence.com/
The affected areas are mainly narrow, high-traffic streets where tables, chairs, umbrellas and barriers have increasingly clogged pedestrian routes and obscured views of historic buildings.
In addition to the outright ban, stricter limitations will apply to more than 70 other locations, where restaurants may still be allowed outdoor seating but with tighter controls on size, layout and the use of coverings or fixed structures.
The goal, city officials say, is not to eliminate outdoor dining entirely but to restore balance in areas that have become overwhelmed.
The measures are scheduled to take effect in early 2026, although the city has not yet announced a precise start date.
A transition period has been built in to allow businesses time to adapt. Existing permits for outdoor dining structures must be reviewed or renewed under the new rules by mid-March 2026, effectively setting a practical deadline for compliance.
Florence’s city hall says the decision responds to long-standing complaints from residents who argue that some streets have turned into “open-air dining corridors,” making daily life difficult and eroding the character of the historic centre.
Officials also point to the need to safeguard Florence’s architectural heritage and ensure unobstructed views of iconic landmarks.
The ban will not apply uniformly across the city. Wider streets and larger piazzas, as well as areas outside the historic core, are expected to retain some form of outdoor dining.
Heritage advocates and resident groups have welcomed the move as overdue, while many restaurant owners warn it could hurt revenues, particularly during peak tourist seasons when outdoor tables are most profitable.
Image: Karon Morono, Scop.io
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