The wording on the city council advertisement says: In Rome its easier now you can change your residence without leaving your kitchen. It is an exaggeration, but what it means is that some of the bureaucratic procedures which a Roman has to follow have been simplified, for the 49 per cent of citizens who use the internet.

The city council has been working on restructuring the city website for several months and now Romes mayor, Walter Veltroni, has presented the first stage of online interactive services which will enable members of the public to pay traffic fines and nursery school registration fees. From May it will be possible to pay a range of council taxes and from October make payments for school buses and meals. Residents will be able to consult their family registry records, births and marriages, make changes and correct mistakes, as well look up their outstanding traffic-offence payments.

To take advantage of these services it will be necessary for internet-users to register online at www.comune.roma.it. Anyone needing assistance can call the city help line 060606.