The city is undergoing a dramatic overhaul in some parts of the city ahead of the Roman Catholic Holy Year in 2025 and now tourists have been left unimpressed by the sheer volume of building work in the city.
Rome’s usually picturesque streets are currently “littered with scaffolding”, leaving tourists disappointed as the city gears up for a massive facelift ahead of the Roman Catholic Holy Year in 2025.
The Italian capital is buzzing with renovations, from parks to rubbish bins, and even its most famous tourist spots are getting a makeover for the event that rolls around every 25 years.
Reports suggest that Rome could welcome a staggering 32 million visitors during the celebrations, but the extensive preparations have caused disruptions for both sightseers and residents.
Some visitors have voiced their frustrations about the construction work marring their experience.
Chatting with the Independent, one visitor expressed his dismay at the extent of the ongoing construction. Tom Pagano remarked: “We knew work was going on, but we didn’t realise there would be quite so much. It is a bit of a bummer. I guess there is so much to see here that you can always find something that isn’t covered in scaffolding.”
But it’s not just Rome feeling the pressure of tourism; Giancarlo Cielano, 80, shared with the Guardian how the influx of tourists has affected life in Cinque Terre, saying: “Older people like me, we’re used to having a sleep at around 4pm.”
“But then, as more people came, we just couldn’t do it anymore. There were these constant voices and suitcases being rolled along the streets … we could no longer hear the sound of the sea.”, reports the Express.
The influx of tourists has sparked concerns as Europe grapples with a scorching summer, facing both blistering 40C heatwaves and a wave of anti-tourism sentiment.
Italy, in particular, is feeling the brunt of the sweltering conditions, with temperatures regularly soaring to 40C and beyond. The extreme weather has led to such perilous conditions that the UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice, warning of “highly dangerous and unpredictable” wildfires.
They have advised travellers to “check the latest alerts and weather forecast and follow the advice of local authorities if you’re considering travelling to affected areas. Take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas and report fires to the emergency services”.
