ROME -- The re-opening of the Spanish Steps, which have been closed for restoration since October 2015, has been postponed. Work on the steps was set to be finished by Thursday, but is now predicted to go on until at least September 10.

 According the Italian newspaper the Messaggero, the steps will continue to be cordoned off for restoration until at least September 10, which was the official date given by those in charge of the project, but rumour has it that it might take even longer for the work to be completed.

 Although the restoration of the steps is supported by “VIP sponsor” Bulgari, as the Messaggero says, it is still regarded as having been poorly run and disorganised. Workers on the project have reportedly gone without pay for several months, and there have been long periods of time when there has been no one working on the steps at all.

 Locals have complained of a rise in the number of street sellers around the bottom of the steps, who are frustrated with the drop in tourism due to the closure of the historic site. Restaurant and business owners who work in the square, Piazza di Spagna, told the Messaggero that they remain “sceptical” about the new date set for the re-opening. They complained that the work was going at a very slow pace, and that the restoration site is almost deserted, saying that rumour has it the steps won’t open again until at least October.

 Patron of the Via Condotti Association, one of the streets in close proximity of the steps, said “I hope that this restoration finishes before October, partly because with the film festival coming up we wanted to project the film ‘Roman Holiday’ onto the steps to celebrate 100 years since the birth of Gregory Peck,” adding that “it would be a shame to lose out on such an occasion.”

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