Any reader who has visited Rome will be aware that, in some areas, grafitti decorates just about every vertical surface that wasn't erected by an ancient, autocratic civilation with a love of nicking other people's countries.

Having just returned from the Eternal City, I found this to be true, and I took a shine to this piece of Roman graffito.

And to this one.

This one, too.

There were other, more beautiful scrawls – on the sides of moving trains and high up on tower blocks – but the one that tickled me most was this.

Tax in Italy is approached with almost the same insouciance with which the natives drink their morning coffee: earning a codice fiscale takes about as much effort as choosing a new pair of shoes.

Yet, when such footwear will likely put €350 of hurt on one's bank account, it's no surprise that the 20% sales levy is an anathema to the stylish.

As a sinfully chic type myself, I thank goodness that VAT in the UK will never, ever reach... oh.

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