These 12 Beautiful Places in Italy Are Overwhelmed by Overtourism (And You’ll Still Want to Go Anyway)
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So many places in Italy are overwhelmed by overtourism. In Rome, tourists have been caught damaging ancient landmarks. At the same time, Venice has introduced tourist restrictions to reduce overcrowding.
While tourism is generally positive, supporting global economies, offering life-changing experiences, and improving the lives of communities, it doesn’t always do this right.
Unfortunately, overtourism can cause problems, including local tension, environmental damage, price rises, and unexpected construction. To learn more, here are 12 places in Italy suffering from overtourism.
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Rome
In Rome, the government wants to start charging tourists to visit iconic landmarks like the Trevi Fountain to curb overtourism and prevent the disrespecting of ancient landmarks. In recent years, Rome has suffered immensely at the hands of tourists despite the millions of dollars the tourism industry brings, making it one of Italy’s most beautiful destinations overwhelmed by tourism.
Beyond the apparent issues, such as overcrowding, strained infrastructure, and diminished quality of life for locals, increased tourism rates in the Italian capital have seen a rise in criminal damage. For example, in recent years, multiple tourists have been caught defacing the Colosseum, an almost 2,000-year-old ancient Roman amphitheater. Some tourists have also been seen bathing in the Trevi Fountain.
Read also: Top Activities To Do in Italy
Venice
In Venice, tourists flood the streets in the thousands, making it overcrowded in almost every corner. Easily one of Italy’s most crowded cities, this picturesque island city suffers from overcrowding. According to Statista, more than 5 million tourists arrive in the city yearly. On the busiest days, almost 120,000 tourists crowd the city.
To make matters worse, rising sea levels are causing the city to sink. Some of the most significant adverse impacts of overtourism in Venice include damage to landmarks, unexpected construction, lack of resources, and wildlife habitat destruction.
To combat overtourism, the government has introduced an entry fee for visitors and a ban on cruise ships. This will reduce visitor numbers and prevent further damage to landmarks and popular attractions.
Read also: Italy’s Tourist Traps To Avoid
Milan
From the outside, Milan has everything, from high-end fashion designers and iconic Italian landmarks to world-class cuisine and good weather. However, it is also one of Italy’s most overwhelming cities in terms of tourism. In Milan, it’s common to see large crowds outside tourist attractions, many tacky souvenir stalls, and tourist-targeted scams.
There’s no denying that Milan is still a spectacular city to visit, but overtourism takes some of the shine away. Like Venice, Milan is one of the latest Italian cities to implement a new initiative to fight back against overtourism. For example, the city has proposed closing times for outdoor areas of bars and restaurants and bans ice cream after midnight.
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Portofino
In Portofino, a vibrant fishing village on the Italian Riviera, locals are starting to feel the strain and negative impacts associated with overtourism. According to Euro News, Portofino residents have had enough traffic jams, large crowds, long queues, and blocked paths caused by the tourism industry.
Considering the Italian village has a population of approximately 400 residents but sometimes welcomes more than 10,000 visitors, it’s not hard to see where the problems lie. Not only do these large crowds make the village overcrowded, but they also strain public services and infrastructure. Luckily, local officials have introduced plans to reduce congestion, such as no-wait zones to keep travelers moving.
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Pompeii
Not all of Italy’s beautiful places overwhelmed by overtourism are villages, towns, and cities. Some are major tourist attractions, like Pompeii, a world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the past, Pompeii has experienced earthquakes and an apocalyptic-style volcanic eruption, but now it faces a new threat: overtourism.
Overtourism at Pompeii has created many problems for the Italian government. For starters, restoring and maintaining the ruins costs millions of dollars. This isn’t made any easier by thousands of tourists walking on the ruins daily, which causes decay. Not to mention, many disrespectful tourists damage and steal from the site. It also costs a fortune for the site to employ enough guards to manage the influx in tourist numbers.
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Florence
Florence, one of Italy’s most famous historic cities, risks losing its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of overtourism. According to the Florentine, iconic attractions like Uffizi Galleries and the Ponte Vecchio are often so busy that locals and tourists struggle to navigate them. As such, Florence is easily one of Italy’s most beautiful places, overwhelmed by overtourism.
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To make matters worse, locals face the prospect of an increased cost of living. Rental prices across the city have skyrocketed due to the uncontrolled rise of short-term rentals, with many long-term homes being converted into tourist accommodations. The city’s infrastructure is under pressure, and its rich cultural heritage is being lost.
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Sicily
While tourists enjoy Sicily’s picturesque beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and historic coastal towns jam-packed with landmark architecture, locals face problems only exacerbated by overtourism. Until recently, Sicily hasn’t had a problem with overtourism, but the combination of high tourist numbers and global warming has been catastrophic.
The Guardian reports that Sicily is currently experiencing a weather crisis that could lead to the desertification of much of the island. Unfortunately, overtourism puts pressure on already scarce water resources, with life-changing consequences for the island’s residents and environment. Considering millions of people visit Sicily yearly, this problem will likely continue until something changes, which doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon.
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Sardinia
Sardinia is a large island in the Mediterranean Sea known for its stunning beaches. Like many of Italy’s tourist destinations, it is burdened by overtourism and struggling to meet the demand. The large numbers of tourists have caused great disruption to the lives of locals and even damaged the island’s natural landscapes.
Tourists have had to be banned from walking on Spiaggia Rosa due to their danger to the pink micro-organisms that turn the sand pink. Unbelievably, many tourists also stole sand from the island’s pink sand beaches. Meanwhile, in small towns like Stintino, residents dread driving their cars for fear of tourists stealing their parking spaces.
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Casa di Giulietta, Verona
The damage overtourism can cause is evident in Verona, a city in Northern Italy’s Veneto region. More than 3 million tourists a year visit Casa di Giulietta, a 14th-century house made famous by William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The stone balcony at the house is said to be the inspiration for Shakespeare’s play.
Therefore, a bronze statue of Juliet stands outside. Unfortunately, the statue might not be there for much longer, as the sheer number of tourists who have touched it has caused damage in the shape of a small hole. Unsurprisingly, it’s not uncommon for Casa di Giulietta to be overcrowded with tourists.
Read also: Enchanting Medieval Cities and Towns in Italy
Bologna
For many years, Bologna has welcomed travelers and international students with open arms. After all, tourism brings millions of dollars to the local economy. However, the city is at risk of becoming one of Italy’s most overwhelmed by overtourism cities. In recent years, Bologna has grown in popularity, with locals now fearing the city is losing its identity.
A report from the Express reveals that overtourism has forced students out of the city due to the increase in vacation rentals. Furthermore, the city’s historic streets are changing for the worse. Traditional food markets, local businesses, and historic stationery shops are being replaced by franchises. Meanwhile, public services like health care, transport, and water supplies are strained.
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Lake Como
Lake Como is another stark example of an Italian tourist destination that has fallen victim to its own success. Local people worry the picturesque resort is being consumed by the very thing that should’ve brought it success: overtourism. Unfortunately, Lake Como can’t cope with the excessive number of tourists, and locals are paying the price.
In recent years, Lake Como has suffered greatly from environmental damage, over-construction, and overcrowding. Overtourism has reshaped the region’s spectacular shorelines, destroying much of their natural beauty, while luxury resorts diminish the resort’s authenticity. Let’s not forget that tourists often overload many of Lake Como’s famous points of interest.
Read also: UNESCO World Heritage Sites To See in Italy
Bolzano
Thanks to the city’s proximity to the Dolomites, fascinating architecture, and rich history, Bolzano is one of Italy’s most beautiful places to visit. However, it’s also one of Italy’s most overcrowded tourist destinations. In Bolzano, overtourism causes traffic jams, price increases, overcrowding, and a diminished quality of life for locals.
As a result, CNN reports that locals find it difficult to cope with the hordes of tourists descending on the city. Resources are limited, residents struggle to find somewhere to live, and getting around the city is much more difficult. To combat overtourism, the city has introduced a limit on overnight visitors and imposed a ban on any new accommodation openings until another closes.
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