Italy Gears Up For Massive Holiday Crowds with new Tourist Control Measures

Italy braces for massive holiday crowds, implementing new control measures to manage the influx of tourists during Ferragosto celebrations at popular destinations.

Roman Holidays could turn into a nightmare for anyone planning to visit Italy in the coming days. With an overwhelming number of people expected to flood the country’s top destinations during a major holiday, special measures are being enforced to manage the crowds.

According to Italy’s Tourism Ministry, around 13 million Italians will be traveling domestically this weekend as the nation celebrates Ferragosto, a centuries-old holiday established by Emperor Augustus to give workers a break, combined with the Catholic Feast of the Assumption of Mary.

When you add the millions of international tourists arriving at the same time, it sets the stage for potential chaos, unruly behavior, and unfortunate incidents that often make the news. both in Italy and around the globe.

This has led many locations to introduce new rules and utilize technology in an effort to manage the situation.

Across Italy, from the island of Sardinia to the heel of the boot in Puglia, access to many popular beaches now requires reservations through an app.effort to control crowd sizes.

Additionally, Italian media reports that plastics, smoking, and in some cases even towels and chairs have been temporarily banned from the beaches in the coming days.

Night swimming ban
Certain beaches on the island of Sardinia, which has experienced a record surge in tourists this summer, have prohibited the use of rocks to secure beach umbrellas. The communities of Santa Teresa di Gallura and Sant’Antioco say anyone failing to comply will be fined 500 euros ($550), according to local media reports.

In Sardinia, the mayor of northeastern Olbia has imposed a ban on late-night swimming, beach camping, bonfires, and even the overnight use of chairs and towels to curb all-night festivities—though some might find the 5 a.m. cutoff for music a bit too lenient.

Elsewhere the rules are stricter.In Sassari, located in northwestern Sardinia, music is required to stop by 2 a.m. In the resort areas of Platamona, Porto Ferro, and Argentiera, the cutoff time is extended to 3 a.m., according to an ordinance issued by the island’s mayors.

In Rome, Florence, and Venice, temporary stoplights have been introduced in high-traffic pedestrian areas to prevent people from taking selfies and obstructing the flow of foot traffic.

Along the Amalfi Coast, local authorities will manage the number of vehicles congesting the scenic roads by alternating access for even and odd-numbered license plates during peak hours, according to the Campania tourist board.

Trail closures
In Sassari, in northwestern Sardinia, music must be turned off by 2 a.m. However, in the resort areas of Platamona, Porto Ferro, and Argentiera, the cutoff time is extended to 3 a.m., as specified in an ordinance from the island’s mayors.

In Rome, Florence, and Venice, temporary traffic lights have been installed in crowded pedestrian zones to discourage selfies and keep foot traffic flowing smoothly.

On the Amalfi Coast, authorities plan to reduce vehicle congestion on the picturesque roads by alternating access for even and odd-numbered license plates during busy periods, as noted by the Campania tourist board out for Ferragosto.

Even escaping to sea isn’t really an option for those who haven’t booked ahead.

Italy’s cruise ship tourism industry anticipates over 65,000 passengers arriving in Genoa, with six ships scheduled to make 12 port calls in the two weeks surrounding August 15. In Civitavecchia near Rome, around 59,000 cruise ship passengers are expected during the same period. In Naples, approximately 45,000 passengers are expected, while in Bari around 25,000 will disembark to add to the crowd.

Italy, like many destinations worldwide, is grappling with the challenges of overtourism during peak season, a problem that negatively impacts both the quality of life for locals and the vacation experience for visitors.

This likely isn’t what Emperor Augustus envisioned when he established the midsummer holiday.