They wanted to give these tourists the “shoe”.
Thousands of tourists flooded a picturesque Italian city over the weekend, creating a “grid” that prevented traffic and forced other sights to wait hours to enter, as seen in dramatic footage circulating on X.
The shocking scenes are recorded in Sirmion, a village with just over 8,000 inhabitants, located on the picturesque shores of Lake Garda.
The city has become a popular destination for sightseeing because of its Roman ruins, thermal baths and Scaligero Castle, a magnificent fortification from the 13th century, seemingly out of a story, Times of London reports.
Tourists to Sirmion had to wait up to 40 minutes to enter the gates to the city center. @mamboitaliano __/x
Unfortunately, this calm oasis has become a pit of Mosha after a huge 75,000 visitors descended the center of the coast through the May festive weekend to visit the fortress, The Sun reported.
Alarm videos show crowds of travelers who are arranged at the gates and pile up in the narrow passages of Sirmion as the beginning of Superbowl.
It has been reported that the cars and electric buses of the residents got out of the feet while visitors had to wait 40 minutes to get through the gates to reach the center of Sirmon.
The locals were understandably dissatisfied with the flood.
“Exceeded by tourists – chaos, grate and hours of waiting,” said one of the X, recalling the chaotic spectacle. “A crisis that needs to be urgently addressed and regulated. It harms our heritage and turns experience negative.”
Tourists are arranged to visit Scaligero Castle. @mamboitaliano __/x
Another disappointed poster complains: “Overturism is what happens when the presence is confused with existence. Fast, strong, empty. Like rapid fashion – destructive and harmful. Travel less, they mean more.”
Marco Merlot, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Operators Association, told Times that he was “very worried about the public safety and quality of life of tourists, residents and workers.”
“We hope that the Council will include us in finding effective and widely agreed strategies,” he said.
“Overturism is what happens when the presence is confused with existence,” said one X poster as it declines the crowds. “Fast, strong, empty. Like a quick fashion – destroyed and harmful. Travel less, mean more.” @emanuelebebertoli/x
Scaligero Castle in Sirmion. Clemmtravel – Stock.Adobe.com
The members of a local group, Siamo Sirmion (“We are Sirmion”) have also determined the swim of their beloved city, which has long been a center for famous historical figures from Sigmund Freud to James Joyce.
“If this is the model of council management, the risk is not just difficulties for the residents, but a real and lasting harm to the tourism and image of Sirmion,” the group wrote.
Roberto Salarni, an employee responsible for transport, said they did not intend to mitigate the number of visitors entering the narrow bridge to access the castle, but admitted that the flow could be managed better.
“This is the first thing to do, possibly installing a barrier at the entrance to the castle, which would allow us to manage the exceptional situations we saw on Friday,” the advisor said.
However, he noted that he had never “seen so many people” visiting Sirmion or neighboring lake cities.
In fact, Italy is one of the many destinations in Europe that has been overcome by the global tournament.
The situation has become so terrible in Venice that local employees have implemented policies to limit large tourist groups – but little benefit.
They followed this measure in April, imposing a fee on the day travelers who “eat and run”, phrase officials use for tourists who pack their lunch, click selfies and leave without spending a penny.