Rome residents protest overtourism in Trastevere district

Residents in Rome’s Trastevere district are increasingly frustrated by the impact of mass tourism. Simonetta Marcellini, a 74-year-old resident and founder of the Comitato Emergenza Trastevere, has resorted to keeping three buckets of water by her window to pour on noisy tourists, particularly British and American visitors, who disturb the peace at night or insult locals.

Marcellini reports that the neighborhood has seen significant changes, with local shops being replaced by bars and nearly half of the residents moving away over the last decade. She also noted issues with tourists urinating on historic buildings.

This tension reflects a broader trend across Italy. Rome hosted 22.9 million visitors in 2025, a figure exceeding seven times the city's population. Italy also recorded a record 256 million overnight stays this summer. Similar friction has been reported in Venice, where locals feel they have become mere tourist attractions.