"We have nothing against tourists. We know that they are a great resource for our city," Dario Nardella from Florence, told the Guardian.
"But there is a problem with respecting decorum. The majority of visitors are respectful and elegant. But there has been an increase among those who don't respect our cultural heritage, who sit down on church steps, eat their food and leave rubbish strewn on them."
The Santa Croce church in Florence is the first to take drastic action.
A representative from the church explained that "By washing the steps every lunchtime, we hope that they will be too wet to lounge on", but denied aiming the hoses at tourists.
The Santa Corce in Folorence dates back to 1442 and is a popular landmark in the city.
It contains the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo as well as the composer Rossini.