Pisa blocks new souvenir shops

The City of Pisa has approved a resolution blocking the opening of new shops dedicated primarily or exclusively to the sale of souvenirs in the historic center. The measure was announced in April 2026 by the city council.

The ban mainly concerns:

• “Zone A” and “Zone B” of the historic center,
• the station area,
• Via Roma (near the Tower),
• Cattaneo Street.

According to the Municipality, the objective is:

• limit the proliferation of identical activities,
• protect bhistorical works and local trade,
• protect neighborhood shops
• improve the quality of the commercial offering,
• to counter the “commercial desertification” of the center.

In practice, this is the first attempt (but why didn't anyone think of it before?) to stem the proliferation of shops selling souvenirs, magnets, keychains, T-shirts and hats, scarves, umbrellas, mugs, pens, and lighters. These shops have a potential catchment area of ​​approximately 4 million consumers, the number of visitors to Pisa each year. And a good portion of these outlets are run by Bangladeshi citizens, who don't always print receipts.

On the other hand, in the historic center, neighborhood shops (including grocery stores) continue to close, as do small, historic artisan workshops, bookshops, boutiques, and toy retailers. All of them are Pisan merchants.

Read also:

• How can neighborhood shops be saved?
• Monticchiello: The Tuscan Village That Defeated Overtourism