logo
‘Here lies Florence, dead of overtourism'

‘Here lies Florence, dead of overtourism'

Boston Globe17-07-2025
Summer crowds overwhelm the Ponte Vecchio, Florence's most iconic bridge, famed for the goldsmith workshops and stores that line both sides of it.
Stefano Morelli
'I saw it gradually change,' Amato says, 'until in the last few years it has become only for tourists and is an eating place. Everyone has something to eat in their hands.' Florentines are nowhere to be found. Shops selling traditional Florentine goods — ceramics, leather goods, gilt frames — have all but vanished from the city's historic center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Get The Gavel
A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Indeed, the center contains some 2,000 bars, sandwich shops, and restaurants.
Selfie-takers prove they were at TripAdvisor's most-reviewed restaurant in the world, All'antico Vinaio.
Stefano Morelli
Along the Via dei Neri, one of Florence's most flocked-to streets, tourists sit anywhere they can, even on historic monuments, with sandwiches from the nearby All'antico Vinaio. Locals complain of their disrespect, noise, and litter.
Stefano Morelli
Across Europe, tourism has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, sparking a backlash against roller bags and the people who bang them along picturesque cobblestoned streets. Just ask the tourists
But for tourists per capita, no European destination beats the seat of the Italian Renaissance.
Travelers at Florence's Santa Maria Novella Station. Some 59 million train goers pass through the station annually.
Stefano Morelli
Tourists flank the Loggia dei Lanzi in central Florence, home of such statues as "The Rape of the Sabine Women" and "Perseus with the Head of Medusa."
Stefano Morelli
Florence Mayor Sara Funaro has taken to social media to address the problems that overtourism has created. 'Florence is the first city in Italy in terms of density of tourism … at least 25 tourists per resident,' she wrote on Facebook. The city center, which is less than 2 square miles, gets 10.5 million visitors a year. They far outnumber the residents. Florence today has a population of 361,000, down 148,000 since 2000, according to Chiara Agnoletti, a coauthor of a recent report on the city for Tuscany's Regional Institute for Economic Planning.
A tourist snags a rare quiet moment in one of Florence's four "Fotoautomatica" booths, where a 2-euro coin buys a strip of analog photos.
Stefano Morelli
The analog photo booths are a popular tourist attraction.
Stefano Morelli
'Before, living here was a privilege,' says Alida Fenizi, an architect who lives on the centrally located Via dei Neri. 'Today, we are invaded by tourists. Both in the streets and in the houses. In my apartment building, there are only short-term rentals.'
Tourists swarm the Fontana del Porcellino in the Piazza del Mercato in central Florence. It is said that rubbing the wild boar's snout confers luck.
Stefano Morelli
Tourists in the Piazza Santa Croce, where the historic Calcio Storico Fiorentino — a full-contact sport that mixes rugby, boxing, and wrestling — took place in June, drawing thousands of spectators.
Stefano Morelli
In 2012, there were only 150 short-term rentals advertised online in Florence. Today, there are some 12,000. 'Even if business is good, to live in a Florence with fewer and fewer Florentines is to lose a sense of community,' says Stefano Colovicchi, a greengrocer near Piazza Santo Spirito, a neighborhood opposite the city center on the other side of the Arno. The average tiny two-room apartment in Florence is one of the most expensive in Italy: just over €1,100 ($1,290) a month, excluding expenses like water and utilities. The average monthly salary of a clerk or waiter in Florence is €1,400 ($1,640).
Living in the city center is out of reach,' says Diletta Fiaschetti, who works at the U-Boat watch store on the Ponte Vecchio. Her thoughts are echoed by Paolo Monteverde of the Florentine University Union, who says, 'The city is only for rich people and tourists.' The average monthly cost of a student's rented room has jumped 59 percent since 2021 to €618 ($723). Roberto Pisoni, a student, says, 'Many people give up studying in Florence because of high rent prices.'
Tour groups pause in the Piazza Santa Croce. The likes of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli are buried nearby.
Stefano Morelli
A new citywide resolution establishes a municipal registry for temporary rentals, valid for five years, and blocks new rentals in the UNESCO area. Residents who rent their apartments in violation of the new regulations risk fines of €10,000. The goal is to reverse the overtourism trend in three years.
Meanwhile, some of the Florentines who have stayed have chosen to fight. 'Salviamo Firenze x Viverci' — 'Let's save Florence and live there' — a campaign to counter the rampant spread of Airbnbs and the proliferation of key boxes for short-term renters in the city, staged a funeral at the grand opening of an investor-owned complex, The Social Hub, on the Via Belfiore in the city center in January. 'Here lies Florence,' the protesters' plaque read. 'Dead of overtourism.'
Some tourists manage to get away from it all. A picnic in the Giardino delle Rose — the Rose Garden — below the Piazzale Michelangelo.
Stefano Morelli
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Signs Someone Is American, According To Europeans
Signs Someone Is American, According To Europeans

Buzz Feed

time5 hours ago

  • Buzz Feed

Signs Someone Is American, According To Europeans

Want to know how to spot an American abroad? Ask a European. 'As someone who works closely with American clients through destination weddings and food tours, I've picked up on quite a few telltale signs,' Portuguese tour guide and food critic Carol Batista told HuffPost. From coffee orders to outfit choices to general vibes, many different kinds of signals can indicate someone is from the U.S. While some are endearing, others might raise more than a few eyebrows. 'I try to avoid generalizations ― a Brooklyn creative won't travel the same way as someone from Texas or the Midwest,' said Stéphanie Pons, the founder of Lisbon Insiders. 'But there is a shared sense of optimism, confidence, and curiosity.' Below, find 23 signs that someone is American, according to Batista, Pons, and other Europeans: Comfort-First Fashion 'You'll often see Americans in athleisure, sneakers, baseball caps, or hoodies, even when traveling, which is often a contrast to more polished local fashion in such European destinations like Italy, for example.' ― Jane Iskra, Iceland-based elopement photographer at ISKRA Photography 'That unwavering confidence of walking into a centuries-old basilica dressed like you just left a reformer Pilates class. Think: athletic leggings, oversized hoodie, and maybe ― just maybe ― sandals with socks. Practical? Extremely. Contextual? Not quite.' ― Luli Monteleone, Lisbon-based digital marketing specialist Big Spending Habits 'At supermarkets or stores abroad, Americans often buy in bulk or stock up more than locals, who tend to shop daily.' ― Iskra 'Americans love to spend ― and often do so more generously than other nationalities. But they also like to feel they're getting great value in return. I would say that the mix of enthusiasm and practicality is very American. Coming from a country with much higher wages, they sometimes don't realize how large the gap is. For example, in Portugal, the average monthly salary is about 1,100 € (~$1,250), so what feels affordable to them can seem extravagant to locals.' ― Batista On The Hunt For Iced Coffee 'The iced coffee hunt. Even in the middle of winter ― and ideally in a 500ml cup. There's a kind of dedication there that I honestly admire.' ― Monteleone 'I would say if they have a drink with lots of ice (either water or iced coffee).' ― Steffi Crivellaro, U.K.-based blogger at Steffi Daydreamer Loud Confidence 'One of the biggest indications is usually that you can hear them before you see them. It's not necessarily that they're loud, but they command attention wherever they are, which also leans into how confidence is built in America. I have often found that Americans are very confident. Even if it does not come naturally to each individual, they seem to have been conditioned or taught to be confident, which means they tend to take up space wherever they are.' ― Ronke Lawal, PR and communications consultant in London 'Americans tend to find everything 'amazing,' and they're not shy about saying so ― out loud and often. They speak with a volume that's just slightly above local norms, even when whispering. And in a world where many cultures lean toward discretion, that kind of openness stands out.' ― Pons Stanley Cups 'Reusable Stanley-style coffee mugs are a giveaway ― they seem to go everywhere with them, even when traveling!' ― Iskra 'Carrying a Stanley or huge water bottle.' ― Crivellaro Large Engagement Rings 'The big, sparkly engagement ring tradition is very American. In some countries, engagement rings aren't as flashy or aren't even a thing sometimes.' ― Iskra Jumping Straight Into English 'It's not the accent ― it's the cheerful assumption that English will always do the job. Most locals do speak it, but trying a simple 'ciao' or 'bonjour' tends to unlock a different kind of experience. It's a small gesture, but it changes everything.' ― Monteleone Seeking Air Conditioning 'In the summer, Italians love to stay outdoors: The squares fill up, and the outdoor tables are always the most desired. Americans, on the other hand, almost always choose the indoor spaces with air conditioning. For them, climate comfort is an absolute priority.' ― Diana De Lorenzi, Rome-based lifestyle blogger 'Americans are notoriously hot all the time and expect lots of air conditioning and ice when they travel, two things that aren't so easy to come by in Italy!' ― Livia Hengel, founder of The Italy Edit Warmth and Friendliness 'I've traveled extensively in the US, and if there's one thing I've consistently noticed, it's their amazing ability to start a conversation: openly, spontaneously, as if they already knew the person in front of them. It can be quite disconcerting for us Europeans, but it's a deeply rooted part of their culture. In France in particular, this kind of attitude is sometimes seen as insincere or self-serving. But I've always defended it, I actually find it refreshing to have even a short exchange with someone who is smiling, warm, and quick to compliment your outfit or haircut. Personally, I love good energy, and I take the good where I find it.' ― Kenza Sadoun el Glaoui, Parisian digital creator 'In Ireland, people are known for their friendliness, but we don't have a patch of the Americans. They say hello to everyone, they chat to locals, they ask questions, and it's lovely to see. There's a sort of genuine, open curiosity about an American abroad that I, personally, find very endearing.' ― Tara Povey, blogger at Where Is Tara? Genuine Enthusiasm 'Americans are often very expressive ― big smiles, open curiosity, confident energy. And when they feel they've been well taken care of, they're incredibly grateful. I've had food tour guests react like it was Christmas morning just because of a market tasting or a pastry they'd never tried before, and a bride bringing me a full suitcase with gym clothes as a souvenir from LA — and it's truly heartwarming.' ― Batista 'My partner Luca Veralli is a master gelato maker, and his gelato has been awarded by Gambero Rosso. Every time an American tourist tastes it, they always ― without fail ― say the same phrase: 'Oh my God!' For us, it's a joy. They say it with genuine enthusiasm that truly makes us happy. But it's funny how this exclamation is almost always identical, as if it were a ritual.' ― De Lorenzi, Generous Tipping 'One immediate giveaway is that American travelers are generous tippers ― even though the U.S. is one of the only countries in the world where a 20%-plus tip is expected as the norm. On the other hand, with average salaries nearly double those in Italy, tipping makes sense and is a great way to show appreciation for good service, especially in places where it's not expected.' ― Hengel 'America has a very generous tipping culture, unlike any other country I've ever visited. When Americans travel outside the U.S., leaving large tips is a sure sign of where they are from. In Ireland and most of Europe, we only leave tips if the service or the food has been particularly good, and servers definitely do not expect or rely upon tips.' ― Povey Paying By Credit Card 'Americans always pay by card, even for very small amounts like a 1 euro espresso. This is another cultural difference we see every day.' ― De Lorenzi Wide Smiles and Perfect Teeth 'Americans are known for having great dental care and wide, confident smiles. Smiles and perfect teeth are often one of the first giveaways.' ― Iskra Full Of Compliments 'I've always found Americans to be sweet and genuine! I can especially tell when a woman is American because she'll go out of her way to give me a compliment, and it's usually thoughtful and specific. It happens multiple times a day whenever I'm traveling in the States, and I've never experienced that kind of spontaneous kindness anywhere else in the world.' ― Kelsey Heinrichs, blogger at Kelsey in London Wanting To Customize Everything 'There's a kind of customization instinct ― asking for dressing on the side, almond milk in the cappuccino, or a dinner reservation at 6 p.m. (which still feels like mid-afternoon in Portugal). I see it as a reflection of their strong sense of personal agency, the belief that services can and should adapt to you, not the other way around.' ― Pons, Saying "Like" All The Time Paramount / Via 'The overuse of the word 'like' — especially with people from LA. Sometimes you'll hear 'like' eight times in a single sentence! It's a casual, filler-filled way of speaking, and of course, there's the unmistakable clarity of American English.' ― Batista 'Saying things like 'awesome,' 'you guys,' or the ever-present filler word 'like' always catches my ear with a 99% probability I hear it from an American.' ― Iskra Limited Geographic Knowledge 'A general lack of geographical knowledge is a sure sign. Americans tend to refer to any country in Europe as 'Europe,' as if we are all the same. There is a huge difference between Norway and France; they're completely incomparable. Referring to us all under one sweeping term of 'Europe' or 'Europeans' is sort of ridiculous. I once met an American man who asked me where I was from. When I told him I was from Ireland, he said that he had just been visiting my neighbors. I assumed that he must mean the United Kingdom (which I could understand). However, he then declared that he had visited Italy. Needless to say, neither Italy nor Ireland would ever refer to the other as a neighbor. It would take 27 hours to drive from Dublin to Rome. That's the equivalent of Miami to Minneapolis. Florida and Minnesota are not neighbors.' ― Povey Cappuccino With Dinner Peeradon Warithkorasuth / Getty Images 'If someone asks for a cappuccino with pasta or pizza and also at dinner, you can be sure: They are an American tourist. It's a cultural habit that always makes us smile because for us Italians, cappuccino is a morning ritual, part of breakfast, but it's nice to see how every culture experiences food in its own way.' ― De Lorenzi, Different Portion Size Expectations 'I notice this a lot during food tours ― Americans are frequently surprised by how small European portions can be (while we are shocked when we see their portions). I've heard more than once 'Wait, this is for one person?' and it's always funny.' ― Batista Fast-Moving Itineraries ''I've been to Europe' often means a whirlwind through Paris, London, and Rome in under two weeks. Honestly, impressive cardio — but also, you just missed the good bakery next door. And truthfully? Europe's charm often lives in the quieter, slower corners.' ― Monteleone 'Rushing to include their ancestry in an opening conversation. Don't get me wrong, I love that Americans are so enthusiastic about their heritage, and it certainly does wonders for Ireland's tourism industry. However, they are the only country that does it. Never have I met anyone from outside the US who has launched into their grandparents' origin story when we have just been introduced. While charming, it's definitely a telltale sign that someone is from the US.' ― Povey Steves' Love Of Rick Steves Guidebooks 'In Reykjavík, I immediately pick out Americans out of the bunch because they explore the country using Rick Steves Iceland as their compass. Not Lonely Planet. Or ,odors. Or even a local source. Good 'ol American Rick Steves ― who I met in person when I was his local guide in Reykjavík and is as 'Merican as they come. I'm sure other nations use guidebooks too, but Americans carry Rick with pride. Not tucked away in their backpack, ashamed of getting caught with something as gauche as a guidebook, but loud and proud. Out in the open.' ― Auður Ösp Ólafsdóttir, Iceland-based marketing professional walked That Intangible American Vibe 'As someone who works across lifestyle and hospitality in Europe, I often find myself noticing subtle (and not-so-subtle) clues that someone is American. The most obvious is the accent, but beyond that, there's a specific energy that's easy to spot.' ― Pons 'I somehow pick Americans out of a crowd, but I can't put my finger on how. It's something about how they're built and how they're dressed ― I really can't articulate it. They're just so essentially American that their Americanness shines, even in a culture where you'd think it would be harder to pick them out. Once upon a time, I think Americans just walked around with a certain air of confidence about them. They were proudly American, and you could tell in the way they walked. Nowadays, many conversations with Americans start with apologies. Their once-proud stance has been replaced with slightly hunched shoulders. Like they're aware that tolerance for American politics is wavering around the world and they don't want to take up too much space. But it's still something about how Americans walk in the world that makes them recognizable.' ― HuffPost.

Experience Indigenous culture at this 2-day festival in Ontario — Here's how to get tickets and score a free spot on a powwow bus tour
Experience Indigenous culture at this 2-day festival in Ontario — Here's how to get tickets and score a free spot on a powwow bus tour

Hamilton Spectator

time16 hours ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Experience Indigenous culture at this 2-day festival in Ontario — Here's how to get tickets and score a free spot on a powwow bus tour

Get a chance to experience Indigenous cultural heritage by watching Indigenous artists, joining a powwow bus tour, discovering First Nation crafts and trying Indigenous cuisine during a two-day cultural event in Windsor-Essex. Caldwell First Nation will be holding its first Competition Powwow from Aug. 9 to 10 at Caldwell First Nation Reserve, located along Mersea Road 1, in Leamington, Ontario. The two-day cultural event will highlight Indigenous dancers, singers, drummers, cuisine and crafts from across Canada and the U.S. 'The powwow allows us to join with other First Nations from across Canada and the United States to share in this great gathering and exciting cultural experience,' the organizers said on the event's page. 'This is more than just a celebration — it's a high-energy, competitive powwow featuring some of the finest dancers and singers in North America.' Over $50,000 in prizes will be given to the best artists who will compete in different categories. There will be plenty of on-site food vendors offering Indigenous cuisines and local favourites as well as local artisans and craft vendors who will offer handmade jewelry and crafts, the organizers shared in a post announcing the event. Tickets to the event are $10 per person. It's free for children under eight years old and people over 60. Caldwell First Nation along with the Windsor Port Authority and Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, will be offering 105 people a free bus tour on the first and second day of the event. 'The tour route will take riders along the Windsor-Essex Shoreline to highlight many hidden and ancient Indigenous sites en route to the Caldwell First Nation Reserve in Leamington,' the organizers shared in a release announcing the tour. The region's shoreline along the Detroit River and Lake Erie is home to many historically significant Indigenous sites. Before European settlers arrived in the region, the land along the Detroit River was known as Wawiiatanong and was home to Haudenosaunee, Attawandaron (Neutral), and Huron (Wyandot) peoples, according to information from the City of Windsor. The tour route will take riders along the Windsor-Essex Shoreline to highlight many hidden and ancient indigenous sites. The tour will pick up passengers from Destination Ontario — Ontario Travel Information Services at 110 Park St. E. in Windsor. The tour will explore Indigenous sites, before heading to Caldwell First Nation Reserve in Leamington for the event. Reservations for the bus tour will be open soon and guests can book a slot on their site . There's free parking on-site for those who bring their own car and won't join the bus tour. Powwow bus tour schedule. The Caldwell First Nation also known as the Chippewas of Point Pelee and Pelee Island is part of the Anishinaabe people and a proud member of the Three Fires Confederacy — Potawatomi, Odawa, and Ojibwa, according to information on the Caldwell Powwow site. The CFN has lived on the lands surrounding Point Pelee in Windsor-Essex way before the European settlers arrived. The CFN fought as allies of the British during the war of 1812 and were promised land in return. 'Despite their service, they were forcibly removed from their traditional lands in the 1920s and spent decades without a recognized land base.' The Nation's long-standing land claim was finally settled in 2010 and in November 2020 a 200-acre parcel at Bevel Line Road and Seacliff Drive in Leamington was designated as Reserve Land. After a 230-year long fight the Caldwell First Nation returned home to their ancestral land.

How Europeans Feel About American Tourists Right Now
How Europeans Feel About American Tourists Right Now

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

How Europeans Feel About American Tourists Right Now

Danny Hu/Getty When you picture an American tourist in Europe, a certain cliché is bound to spring to mind. Perhaps you envision a loud, bumbling traveler in a large tour group, who doesn't attempt to adhere to cultural customs or speak the local language, and who is impatient at tourist attractions and restaurants. But do these stereotypes actually have any truth to them? Or are they outdated tropes that don't represent the majority of US travelers? A new study is shedding light on the matter. To get to the bottom of how Europeans really see American travelers, Upgraded Points surveyed more than 2,200 people across 22 European countries on their general view of US tourists. The travel credit card advice site also asked Europeans whether recent political events impacted their opinions. For comparison, they also surveyed 1,000 American travelers on their views of the typical US tourist. How Europeans really see American tourists On the whole, Americans actually had a much harsher view of themselves as tourists than the European respondents did. 'Americans often assume the worst about how they come off, while Europeans see a more balanced, though definitely still loud, picture,' the study said. Indeed, the one matter on which both groups agreed was that American travelers can be loud: 70% of Europeans said loudness was a typical trait of US tourists, while 69% of Americans agreed. But volume aside, Europeans had quite a favorable view of US tourists, with 64% of European respondents saying US travelers are friendly (compared to just 44% of Americans who agreed), and 46% saying US tourists are curious (with only 31% of Americans saying the same thing about themselves). When it came to less endearing qualities, American respondents were much more likely to view themselves in a negative light than Europeans. More than half of Americans said that US tourists are arrogant (53%) compared to just 27% of Europeans. Likewise, 40% of Americans said that US travelers are rude, while only 12% of Europeans agreed. When it comes to some of those aforementioned stereotypes, some Europeans do believe at least a few to be true. For example, 61% said US tourists think everyone in Europe speaks English, while 30% said Americans often ignore local customs. Where do Americans annoy European locals the most? The survey also identified the European countries that are most and least annoyed with American tourists. Among the most annoyed countries are Portugal (with 18.8% of respondents saying they're annoyed by US travelers), Belgium (18.3%), Ireland (17.4%), Netherlands (14.9%), and Denmark (14.8%). The countries where respondents said they are the least annoyed by American tourists include Poland, where just 7% of survey participants said they found American tourists annoying, Spain (7.8%), the UK (8.8%), Greece (8.8%), and Latvia (9.6%). The European countries that welcome Americans The report also examined which European countries saw themselves as most and least welcoming to US travelers. Belgium was named the most welcoming country for Americans, with just 1.9% of participants saying that their nation is unwelcoming to American tourists. Belgium's warm hospitality was closely followed by Italy (2%), Estonia (3%), Netherlands (3%), Finland (3%), and Poland (3%). As for the least welcoming country in Europe for Americans? France took that title, with a significant 15% of survey respondents saying their country is unwelcoming to US tourists. This detail isn't lost on American travelers, 47% of whom said France is probably the country who views them the least favorably. Hungary (where 8.7% of participants said their country was unwelcoming to US tourists), Norway (8%), Denmark (7.5%), and Spain (6.9%), appear slightly more tolerant than France, but still maintain comparably aloof attitudes toward US visitors. How have US politics affected Europeans' views of American tourists? Interestingly, recent political events seem to have had little effect on Europeans' collective views of US tourists, with just one in five European respondents saying recent policy changes such as tariffs have shifted their views on American travelers. On the other hand, a whopping 80% of Americans believe that recent political issues have affected how Europeans view them. The 2024 presidential election did change some Europeans' views of Americans in certain regions. In Scandinavia, for instance, a higher percentage of survey participants said the recent US election shifted their view of US travelers. The effect was most prominent in Norway, where 44% said the election impacted their view of Americans, followed by Estonia (35%), Sweden (31%), Denmark (30%), and Finland (29%). Among the countries least likely to say the election affected their views were Hungary (8%), Slovenia (14%), the UK (17%), Poland (17%), and France (17%). Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler The Latest Travel News and Advice Want to be the first to know? Sign up to our newsletters for travel inspiration and tips Stop Counting the Countries You Visit How Safe Is Flying Today? 5 Things Experts Want Travelers to Know The Best Places to See the Northern Lights Worldwide Solve the daily Crossword

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store