Security Measures for San Giovanni

City council has decided on the closure of the Florence city center to non-resident traffic from 8 pm to midnight on June 24 in addition to the restriction of visitors to a maximum of 20,000. This has been decided in order to prevent potential safety problems during the 10 pm San Giovanni fireworks display over piazzale Michelangelo.

Police will be stationed at Lungarno della Zecca, Lungarno alle Grazie, Lungarno Cellini and Lungarno Serristori to impede drivers to go further, except for hotel guests in rented cars or residents who display an identity card.

Via dei Colli, the area around Ponte alle Grazie, Borgo San Croce and other roads will be off-limits to cars and buses.

The sale of beverages in glass bottles or cans and the possession of firecrackers will be prohibited from 6 pm to midnight as well.

Mayor Nardella plans to communicate with city residents during the holiday via a recorded cell phone message.

To read more in Italian, visit Florence’s La Repubblica news site.