Tourists and tramps trash churches

TOURISTS and vagrants have been accused of despoiling some of Italy’s most beautiful churches.

Visitors can no longer use the splendid entrance at Rome’s Basilica of St Mary Major, which is sealed off because it had become a meeting place for drunks and lovers.

In Florence, Catholic officials complain that church steps are being used as toilets at night and police in Venice plan to fine tourists for leaving lunch leftovers in the square outside St Mark’s Basilica.