(ROME) -- Rome has ordered a sex shop near the Vatican to close, city officials said Friday.

An official of the local council near the Vatican told Reuters the shop had violated laws effectively banning sex shops from the historic center of the Italian capital.

Italian newspapers had reported the shop was targeted because of a regulation barring sex shops along routes used by pilgrims coming to Rome for Holy Year celebrations.

The city official said the shop, selling pornographic videos, magazines and sex items, would either have to close or revert to its previous business of selling musical instruments.