A travel influencer has sparked controversy after labelling Bologna the 'worst' city in Italy, claiming she left her holiday early and lost money due to the city's alleged filth and odour. Karo, who posts on TikTok as @karosolotravel, shared a video criticising the historic Italian destination, known for its UNESCO-listed porticoes and renowned cuisine.
In her clip, Karo filmed graffiti on bins and columns, a discarded cigarette, and a rough sleeper outside a shop. She also held a tissue to her nose, claiming the city 'smells of urine everywhere'. She wrote: 'The worst Italian city I've ever been to. It smells of urine everywhere, it's filthy, and you can tell it hasn't been cleaned in years.'
Karo added: 'I came here to eat pasta bolognese, but I felt like vomiting and barely ate a thing! Why do people on TikTok recommend Bologna? It's disgusting! I fled Bologna for Rimini, gave up on my hotel, and lost my money.'
However, many TikTok users disputed her claims. One commented: 'I spent five days in Bologna last April. TOTALLY DISAGREE. I LOVED BOLOGNA.' Another said: 'Bologna is beautiful!' while a third quipped: 'Complaining that the 2000 year old buildings look like they are 2000 years old.' A resident noted: 'Bologna became much much worse since it became a heavily touristy city. Mass tourism is destroying my city!'
Another user countered: 'I respect your opinion but in my view, [it] does not represent the reality at all. I guess [you] didn't match with the place. Bologna is an amazing city with unique character.'
