A 74-year-old resident of Rome's Trastevere neighbourhood says she now pours water on drunk tourists from her window after late-night noise and disruption left her feeling she had no choice. Simonetta Marcellini, who was born and raised in the area, told The i Paper that holidaymakers have been known to cause a ruckus in the small hours.
Resident's extreme measure
Simonetta, a retired radiographer, said: "At first I'm polite, and I point out to them that it is the early hours of the morning and that people will be sleeping. The moment they start arguing back and insulting me, I pour water on them."
She says the Trastevere she knew has been steadily reshaped, with traditional restaurants disappearing and being replaced by bars and quick-stop sandwich bars. The pressure has been fuelled by booming visitor numbers, with Rome attracting 22.9 million tourists last year — reportedly more than seven times the city's resident population.
Impact of overtourism
Simonetta says she hit her limit after seeing visitors use the wall of her building as a toilet. She maintains that life has "gotten much worse" regarding tourism since the Covid pandemic. "Regulations are fewer and our complaints from years ago were underestimated. So a phenomenon that could have been controlled was practically left unchecked and we've arrived today with all the reckless partying," she said.
Trastevere, situated south of the Vatican, is a historic working-class district of alleyways, medieval homes and an abundance of trattorias, eateries and pizzerias. Julius Caesar is said to have built a villa in the area, and Trastevere has been one of the Italian capital's 14 districts since the time of Emperor Augustus.
FCDO advice for tourists
The news comes amid reminders to British holidaymakers that breaking local rules in parts of Italy can carry steep penalties, with fines reported to reach €500 in some towns. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issues travel advice for UK nationals, updating guidance on laws and conduct standards travellers are expected to follow.
Within its travel guidance section for Italy, the FCDO cautions that "some Italian towns and cities have specific laws, and you could be fined for breaking them". Banned behaviour in some areas includes eating or drinking near certain churches, historic sites and public buildings. Entering or swimming in many public fountains is also prohibited — including in Rome.
On the island of Capri, off the Amalfi Coast, authorities have imposed limits on single-use plastics, with visitors not allowed to bring items such as plastic bags, disposable cutlery, cups, trays or straws onto the island.
Additional FCDO advice states: "Illegal traders operate on the streets of all major Italian cities. It is illegal to buy items from unlicensed street traders. If you do, you could be stopped by the local police and fined. It's illegal to remove sand, shells or pebbles from coastal areas in Italy. You could face a large fine for doing so. It's also illegal to collect various species of flowers, plants and herbs from mountain and wooded areas. For more information, check with the regional authorities of the area you're visiting."
