Italian vendors protest forced market relocations and schedule changes

In Bari, street‑market vendors and trade groups such as Fivap‑Unionecommercio have rallied against the city council’s decision to shift several morning markets to late‑afternoon and evening slots during July and August. Operators say the new timetable forces them to set up stalls in temperatures above 40 °C, describing the move as a “massacre” and warning that it will drive customers away. The associations argue that evening markets should be occasional additions, not replacements for the traditional morning sessions.

In another Italian town, producers and sellers at a long‑standing farmer’s market on Via Vivaldi are protesting a municipal plan to move their stalls to the central square. Councilors Emanuele De Risio and Lorenzo Balboni contend the relocation will erase the market’s established parking, services and clientele, creating uncertainty for local businesses. Mayor Marco Martelli defends the change as a step toward revitalising the historic centre after earthquake damage, urging residents to reclaim the main piazza.

Both cases involve municipal authorities altering market times or locations, prompting protests from vendors, trade associations and local officials who fear adverse economic and social impacts.