2025年4月16日、イタリアのナポリで、飲食店が住民のために置いた「文学ベンチ」に、市が公共の場所を占有したとして罰金を科した。16 April 2025 — In Naples, a restaurant's literary bench, put out for residents, is fined by the city for occupying public space.

In the old centre of Naples, in southern Italy, the restaurant Taverna a Santa Chiara, on Via Santa Chiara, had kept a wooden 'literary bench' outside since 2020. Made of recycled wood, it had been used for book launches, and passers-by of every age sat on it to rest.

It had begun during the covid lockdown, when an ordinance briefly allowed outdoor seating; the restaurant chose, deliberately, a bench rather than tables.

One Saturday night, officers on patrol checked the hygiene, the food and the staff, found everything in order — and then left a fine of just over 100 euros for 'occupation of public space.' The owners mean to appeal, and to gather signatures to have the bench recognised as a 'common good.'