Street Sellers in Rome: 5 Things to Know

Street Sellers in Rome: 5 Things to Know

Imagine the scene: you’re riding the subway in Rome, and the Colosseum stop is approaching. The doors to the train open, you climb the stairs, turn a corner and head for the exit. As you finally pass the turnstiles and can actually see the arches for the lower levels of the world-famous amphitheater, the view is blocked by dozens of street sellers.

Street sellers are a given at a landmark like the Colosseum, image by Keegan Houser sourced from Unsplash

Hawkers crowd the road in front of you and try to get your attention. They have selfie sticks, toys, power banks and more trinkets and also sell umbrellas or water bottles, scarves or straw hats. Some don’t seem to be offering any type of merchandise, and are actually just hollering at you, complimenting your clothes or your shoes. No matter their appearance or the items they are carrying, though, they seem to be absolutely everywhere. How can you avoid them?

The truth is, there are always going to be people trying to sell things to tourists in a city that is as travelers-heavy as Rome. This was true in the Middle Ages, in the Renaissance and is obviously still true now. Some people accept is as a fact of life, while others are stressed right out of their minds by the sheer amount of street sellers around such places as the Pantheon or the Vatican.

Any which way, there are ways to minimize their impact on your day. Here are five tried and true tips from a local who meets them every day!

1. Be… rude

Remember the advice on the t-shirt! Image by Johann Jaritz sourced from Wikimedia Commons

I’ve spoken to many foreigners in Rome about street sellers over the years, and to tell the truth this is a concept that they can’t really fathom. And yet this is the foolproof way to get rid of them.

When someone you don’t know tries to attract your attention outside any monument or landmark, just don’t give them any “in”. Blank them, ignore them, act as if you didn’t hear them. And keep moving if you can do so (of course, this is harder if you’re queuing in front of a ticket booth!).

Yes, it’s harsh, but necessary. One of the reasons why locals hardly get bothered is because they have perfected this technique. Somewhere else I saw people refer to it as the “Resting Bitch Face”!

2. Pretend you don’t speak the (English!) language

A street seller haggling with a client, image by KirkandMimi sourced from Pixabay

English is pretty much the universal language in tourism and hospitality, so most street sellers and hustlers use that instead of Italian (this should also tell you just how much they ignore the locals).

If you really are in a situation where you have to acknowledge them, pretend you come from a non English-speaking country and you’ll be mostly left alone. Don’t use French: a huge part of these hawkers come from Senegal so they can figure out that you’re faking it. Go for something exotic!

3. Buy the same stuff somewhere else

Street sellers in central Rome, image by Adrian Pingstone sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Do you really need a selfie stick in 2019? Or a straw hat that’ll make you stand out like a sore thumb? If you truly are in need of some of the stuff that street sellers are offering, from extra USB cords to water, please keep in mind that the same items sell for lower prices and are better quality somewhere else.

You won’t even have to go out of your way to find what you need: there are many local equivalents of Seven Elevens walking distance from the main sights and you’ll have the exact same merchandise there. More shops can be found under the tracks at Roma Termini, or on the high streets, and quality will be obviously higher.

Plus (and I’m sure you don’t need me to remind you that!), by buying in an actual store your purchases will be covered by warranty, and you will be able to exercise your buyer’s remorse – just remember to hold on to your receipt… You know, that piece of paper that street sellers won’t give you!

4. Haggle with them

In the unlikely event you meet any legionnaires (they have been declared illegal) haggle with them before taking any picture! Image by canonfan sourced from Pixabay

While you should be aware that the city of Rome has recently approved new regulations against street sellers and hawkers alike, and they have been declared illegal, they won’t disappear overnight.

If you’re not as bothered as the average tourist by the sheer amount of street sellers, you can try a complete and seemingly counter-intuitive measure: haggling with them until you get a bargain. If you’re comfortable with such type of trading, you might just get a better treatment in the end, but you will need to have a bit of time on your hands!

Haggling with these guys may be a way to, well, indulge them to an extent, as most street sellers come from countries where these kinds of negotiations are commonplace.

In truth, I would never do it as it’s not my style, but to each their own!

The only risk associated with haggling with street sellers is some of them might suffer from a case of… wandering hands. Indeed, many pickpockets hide among people seemingly wanting to sell you trinkets, so keep your wits about yourself, and if you feel your backpack or purse tugged or your pockets touched, be sure to attract the attention of police officers – there are usually several agents near any major landmark.

How to haggle, then? Refer to paragraph no. 3: mention you have seen exactly the same item in a Seven Eleven close by at half the price, or at such famous street markets or fairs as Porta Portese or Mercato Monti (on Via Leonina, by the Colosseum) – you should get what you want (or tire them out) in no time!

5. Show that you don’t have any money on you

A street seller with his homemade art in Rome, image by Alex Blăjan sourced from Unsplash

Contrary to belief, it’s now easier than ever to go cashless in Rome, what with the spreading of e-wallets and other electronic forms of payment. What does this have to do with street sellers? Well, none of them accept cards :)

Obviously you’re free to get money at an ATM or exchange your local currency, just to be on the safe side: however, I suggest you don’t keep it in your pockets as you approach a famous landmark where street sellers are bound to be working.

I go around with empty pockets all of the time – not only it’s best in the event I run into a pickpocket, but if I do meet a more stubborn hawker, it’s easy to turn them inside out and show that I am not lying, I really don’t have any cash on me. That shuts them up immediately!