McDonald's is blocked from opening a franchise next to the ancient Baths of Caracalla in Rome, according to a report in The Art Newspaper.

The burger chain had petitioned the high court of Italy to open a 10,000-square-foot store and parking lot next to the third-century tourist attraction.

The baths were built from 212 to 216 and were visited by 6,000 to 8,000 people daily. The request was denied based on the fact that the land the Chicago-based burger chain wanted to build on, located within a section including the Appian way, Caffarella Park and the Roman aqueducts, including a historic center of Rome, would damage the integrity and "importance of protecting cultural heritage."

The ruling also safeguards any future construction plans in the area.

"This clarification is extremely important for the future protection of our cultural and archaeological patrimony," Italia Nostra, a heritage protection organization, said in a statement.

McDonald's had already started construction of the drive-thru before plans were halted after media publicity in 2019.

Copyright © 2022 Networld Media. All rights reserved., source Industry News