In Rome, It’s Tourists Gone Wild
Travel Blog • Julia Ross • 06.26.07 | 12:48 PM ET
There are places in the world that conjure images of late-night tequila shots and Girls Gone Wild exhibitionism. Vegas. New Orleans. The beaches of Thailand. But Rome’s medieval piazzas? Apparently we can add them to the list. A New York Times story by Peter Kiefer says residents of several historic Roman neighborhoods have had it with the increasing rowdiness of their city’s nightlife, and they’re pointing the finger squarely at tourists. “The foreigners come here because they know that they can do whatever they want,” said one unhappy Roman. “Nobody says anything.”
According to the story, the problem began when the city started to develop residential areas of its historic center into entertainment zones with bars and restaurants. The plan helped boost the city’s tourism numbers to all-time highs—20 million visitors are expected this year—but residents say the noise and trash have spiraled out of control.
Kiefer writes, “The discord has plenty of causes and ample blame: the low-cost airlines for the influx of tourists, the changing social etiquette among Italian youth, the city’s pandering to this type of activity and the residents themselves, many of whom are very affluent, for their expectation of quiet in a commercial city center.”
If the photo accompanying the story is to be believed, it’s hard not to sympathize with indignant locals. When in Rome…party on?
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Related on TravelChannel.com
* Destination Guide: Rome