Agree with your plea 1000 percent. I host occasional small group (6-12 people) culinary tours in Liguria and Abruzzo. The tours take place in April/May or Sept/Oct and we generally try to steer clear of tourist hot spots (like Cinque Terre). I believe the cruise industry is in part to blame for this situation. Their monstrous shops disgorge thousands of people onto Italy's ports, then bus them to Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre, etc. for the day. They cause endless destruction.
It's not just one industry it's a combination of horrible management in Italy, Airbnb, Instagram, and your companies that won't stop selling Vatican tours and promoting other things. And it's travelers themselves who don't care.
We very much enjoyed visiting Tufaio winery in Zagarolo, Lazio with you in 2018. You also took us to beautiful Nemi and introduced us to the shape of pasta known as the ‘priest strangler’. It was one of our best days in Italy ever and only a few miles outside of Rome! We tell people all the time, but they have a list of ‘must sees’ in Rome and consequently miss out on the BEST parts of Italy. You must visit these small towns and villages. You won’t be sorry. They are spectacular.
I think the U.K. school holiday system should change. Holidays should be broken up so that families can visit in the spring and autumn. Perhaps different towns have different holiday times. That would help reduce the number of visitors in the summer.
We do have 2-week stretches at Christmas and Easter, but the former is prohibitively expensive and the latter precedes Serious Exam Season when GCSE & Sixth Form students are buckling down and revising. Our main family holiday always used to be at Easter, but we’re stuck with August for a couple more exam cycles to come.
With the way summers are going globally, we may need to consider changing school year holiday times. Certainly it is safer for kids to be in AC rooms than excruciating heat.
Yes to all of this. I always encourage people to visit Rome’s lesser known museums. There are so many! And to take day trips in Lazio as well. I love to bring friends and family to the Castelli Romani and Tuscia.
Thank you SO much for writing this. I live in Turin and during July it is absolutely horrendous. We don’t get quite such high temperatures (but 35-38C is becoming normal) but the humidity is hellish (60-75% is normal). We won’t have visitors during July & August as they simply won’t enjoy it and neither will we. Most days in these months of hell see me making very early morning forays to the market then spending the rest of the day behind shutters. Air con is available but a) it’s expensive and b) power cuts! The upside is I lose weight and get lots of reading done. I feel for tour guides and everyone working in the industry but for the love god, don’t come to Italy in July!
I am currently disabled due to crohns disease so I am unable to work because it causes severe arthritis and I am grateful? It's crazy. I ended up getting AC because I have elderly dogs and now I rarely leave the house in the summer. Up there I know severe weather has been horrible for wine and agriculture. It's a mess.
Sending much sympathy - it must be horrendous for you. Yes, we have had problems with grape growing although at least this year things seem a little better. Monoculture, especially rice and maize on the plain, has much to answer for but the government seems unable or unwilling to face the inevitable outcome. Roll on autumn! 🍂🍁🍂🍁
This is why I support this Ultima Generazione Kids. They are doing the work we should have been doing twenty years ago. And Italy is sold out to corporate profit, we just have Healthcare so we don't notice as much, but even that system is going down the drain.
I run a cocoa and vanilla farm in Belize and we run farm tours. It’s now cooler in Belize in July and August than a good deal of the Continental US. Time to also rethink the time we take school holidays as well. Traditionally it was so schoolchildren could help with summer harvests. I think that ship sailed long ago.
I feel incredibly validated reading this post. When I moved to Italy last summer, I was literally shocked by the heat and the crowds. I was so over stimulated and my friends and family in the US thought I was being dramatic. I felt physically unwell due to the heat and I didn’t even have a job and required me to be outside. You bring up so many amazing points here.
I would love connect about Georgia because I love the outdoors and am looking for some cooler weather summer escapes for July and August!
Georgia is also gross in the summer unless you go to the mountains. We had to get AC a few years back because the dogs were suffering so badly from the heat. I spend as much time at the lake as possible, more than the sea because even the sea is too fucking warm here!!!
Last year, we went to Liguria on the 28th of August. I had to deliver plates to a restaurant in the hinterlands. On the drive between our house in Piemonte and the agriturismo there, we got notice of a forest fire on our route that popped up out of nowhere. The day temperature was 40. It was beastly. All I could think was what was Genoa like, or heaven help us Rome. It's not going to change for the better. I'm in absolute agreement about sustainability in tourism. What's even the purpose of walking around like zombies risking heat stroke?
It is May 25th and I just came back from a tour in Rome and I was about to pass out. The sun was so intense and there is no air in this city. I think it is going to take multiple deaths or a fire in the Vatican for shit to change.
According to top Sea Ice scientist Thomas Lavergne, in June 2023, a total of 2 millions km² were missing from Antarctica , compared to average conditions. That's roughly half the size of the European Union. We do not want this to increase.
Agree with your plea 1000 percent. I host occasional small group (6-12 people) culinary tours in Liguria and Abruzzo. The tours take place in April/May or Sept/Oct and we generally try to steer clear of tourist hot spots (like Cinque Terre). I believe the cruise industry is in part to blame for this situation. Their monstrous shops disgorge thousands of people onto Italy's ports, then bus them to Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre, etc. for the day. They cause endless destruction.
It's not just one industry it's a combination of horrible management in Italy, Airbnb, Instagram, and your companies that won't stop selling Vatican tours and promoting other things. And it's travelers themselves who don't care.
Plenty of blame to go around, for sure.
We very much enjoyed visiting Tufaio winery in Zagarolo, Lazio with you in 2018. You also took us to beautiful Nemi and introduced us to the shape of pasta known as the ‘priest strangler’. It was one of our best days in Italy ever and only a few miles outside of Rome! We tell people all the time, but they have a list of ‘must sees’ in Rome and consequently miss out on the BEST parts of Italy. You must visit these small towns and villages. You won’t be sorry. They are spectacular.
I appreciate you for saying so!
I think the U.K. school holiday system should change. Holidays should be broken up so that families can visit in the spring and autumn. Perhaps different towns have different holiday times. That would help reduce the number of visitors in the summer.
In the USA there are some year round schools where holidays are broken up throughout the year not just summer. Must better for parents
As long as their children are at the same school. My husband was a teacher and his half term rarely coincided with our daughter's!
We do have 2-week stretches at Christmas and Easter, but the former is prohibitively expensive and the latter precedes Serious Exam Season when GCSE & Sixth Form students are buckling down and revising. Our main family holiday always used to be at Easter, but we’re stuck with August for a couple more exam cycles to come.
With the way summers are going globally, we may need to consider changing school year holiday times. Certainly it is safer for kids to be in AC rooms than excruciating heat.
I think exactly the same about people visiting Mallorca in July/august! 😂
I am italian and because I love my country I feel ashamed for this dramatic side of the medal, simply dishonourable.
I feel like we are all put on a starting line; I take note and plan what I can do, there must be a way.
What to expect from authorities who think no better than cutting electricity?
This has shocked me 😳
I don't think overtourism is limited to Italy. But I do believe that we neednto put residents needs above visitors.
That's for sure 🤔
Yes to all of this. I always encourage people to visit Rome’s lesser known museums. There are so many! And to take day trips in Lazio as well. I love to bring friends and family to the Castelli Romani and Tuscia.
I live in Genzano di Roma (Castelli) and am now avoiding going swimming because of the hoards of Romans. Luckily the best spots are pretty hidden.
You mean swimming in the lakes or the sea?
Lakes. the sea is too warm for my taste.
Someday we will be free of school schedules and can visit in May and October. Until then we melt at the beach.
Thank you SO much for writing this. I live in Turin and during July it is absolutely horrendous. We don’t get quite such high temperatures (but 35-38C is becoming normal) but the humidity is hellish (60-75% is normal). We won’t have visitors during July & August as they simply won’t enjoy it and neither will we. Most days in these months of hell see me making very early morning forays to the market then spending the rest of the day behind shutters. Air con is available but a) it’s expensive and b) power cuts! The upside is I lose weight and get lots of reading done. I feel for tour guides and everyone working in the industry but for the love god, don’t come to Italy in July!
I am currently disabled due to crohns disease so I am unable to work because it causes severe arthritis and I am grateful? It's crazy. I ended up getting AC because I have elderly dogs and now I rarely leave the house in the summer. Up there I know severe weather has been horrible for wine and agriculture. It's a mess.
Sending much sympathy - it must be horrendous for you. Yes, we have had problems with grape growing although at least this year things seem a little better. Monoculture, especially rice and maize on the plain, has much to answer for but the government seems unable or unwilling to face the inevitable outcome. Roll on autumn! 🍂🍁🍂🍁
This is why I support this Ultima Generazione Kids. They are doing the work we should have been doing twenty years ago. And Italy is sold out to corporate profit, we just have Healthcare so we don't notice as much, but even that system is going down the drain.
Such a great piece and so many excellent points made. Really appreciate you and glad I found this
Thank you! ❤️
Such a great read, thanks for sharing Sara Clemence's work!
She's great and that Antartica piece was incredible and timely.
I run a cocoa and vanilla farm in Belize and we run farm tours. It’s now cooler in Belize in July and August than a good deal of the Continental US. Time to also rethink the time we take school holidays as well. Traditionally it was so schoolchildren could help with summer harvests. I think that ship sailed long ago.
I feel incredibly validated reading this post. When I moved to Italy last summer, I was literally shocked by the heat and the crowds. I was so over stimulated and my friends and family in the US thought I was being dramatic. I felt physically unwell due to the heat and I didn’t even have a job and required me to be outside. You bring up so many amazing points here.
I would love connect about Georgia because I love the outdoors and am looking for some cooler weather summer escapes for July and August!
Georgia is also gross in the summer unless you go to the mountains. We had to get AC a few years back because the dogs were suffering so badly from the heat. I spend as much time at the lake as possible, more than the sea because even the sea is too fucking warm here!!!
Love the honesty ! Thank you !
Brilliant! I would also say the same about Spain in July. 🔥
Last year, we went to Liguria on the 28th of August. I had to deliver plates to a restaurant in the hinterlands. On the drive between our house in Piemonte and the agriturismo there, we got notice of a forest fire on our route that popped up out of nowhere. The day temperature was 40. It was beastly. All I could think was what was Genoa like, or heaven help us Rome. It's not going to change for the better. I'm in absolute agreement about sustainability in tourism. What's even the purpose of walking around like zombies risking heat stroke?
It is May 25th and I just came back from a tour in Rome and I was about to pass out. The sun was so intense and there is no air in this city. I think it is going to take multiple deaths or a fire in the Vatican for shit to change.
According to top Sea Ice scientist Thomas Lavergne, in June 2023, a total of 2 millions km² were missing from Antarctica , compared to average conditions. That's roughly half the size of the European Union. We do not want this to increase.
Wow, that's scary, sad, terrifying and makes me feel hopeless.