https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Italy in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed A woman on a hen night became the latest to climb on the 16th-century monument on Saturday night, causing around €5,000 of damage. https://www.thelocal.it/20260423/tourist-charged-after-climbing-florences-neptune-fountain-on-hen-night-dare Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:14:12 +0200 tourist-charged-after-climbing-florences-neptune-fountain-on-hen-night-dare The city of Florence will ban e-scooter sharing services from the start of April, officials said on Saturday, as new rules on their use would be "extremely difficult" to enforce. https://www.thelocal.it/20251124/florence-to-ban-e-scooter-rentals Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:03:30 +0100 florence-to-ban-e-scooter-rentals An ordinance banning all tuk tuks, rickshaws, golf buggies and other “atypical” vehicles from Florence's UNESCO-listed historic centre is set to come into force on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.it/20251013/florence-to-ban-rickshaws-in-city-centre Mon, 13 Oct 2025 18:22:43 +0200 florence-to-ban-rickshaws-in-city-centre New rules cracking down on Airbnb and other tourist rentals have recently come into force in Florence. As angry local landlords vow to challenge the measures in court, here’s a look at what’s changed. https://www.thelocal.it/20250626/explained-how-florence-has-changed-its-rules-on-tourist-lets-in-2025 Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:32:50 +0200 explained-how-florence-has-changed-its-rules-on-tourist-lets-in-2025 The director of Florence’s Uffizi Gallery has announced “strict limits” on selfie-taking tourists after an 18th-century painting was damaged by a careless visitor on Saturday. https://www.thelocal.it/20250623/florences-uffizi-to-clamp-down-on-selfies-after-visitor-damages-18-century-artwork Mon, 23 Jun 2025 12:55:49 +0200 florences-uffizi-to-clamp-down-on-selfies-after-visitor-damages-18-century-artwork Protests over the potential closure of the US Consulate General in Florence have intensified after contested plans to overhaul the US State Department were formally presented to Congress. https://www.thelocal.it/20250602/anger-mounts-in-florence-as-closure-looms-for-us-consulate Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:57:07 +0200 anger-mounts-in-florence-as-closure-looms-for-us-consulate Florence’s city council has approved new regulations for holiday lets, with rule-breakers facing fines of up to €10,000 – but the measure now faces legal challenges. https://www.thelocal.it/20250509/florence-to-clamp-down-on-short-term-holiday-rentals-amid-housing-crisis Fri, 09 May 2025 16:12:26 +0200 florence-to-clamp-down-on-short-term-holiday-rentals-amid-housing-crisis Florence was out of danger on Saturday due to the "decisive" role of a key floodgate that prevented the Arno river from bursting its banks after heavy rainfall, Italian authorities said. https://www.thelocal.it/20250315/florence-averts-disaster-thanks-to-key-floodgate Sat, 15 Mar 2025 17:57:51 +0100 florence-averts-disaster-thanks-to-key-floodgate Florence is known for its incredible history, world-class art, and charming medieval streets - but with its rising popularity among tourists, finding affordable rental options in the city can be a challenge. https://www.thelocal.it/20250226/5-of-the-most-affordable-areas-for-renting-in-florence Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:04:33 +0100 5-of-the-most-affordable-areas-for-renting-in-florence A secret passageway built 500 years ago to allow the Medici family to pass through the Italian city of Florence unhindered reopened to the public on Saturday after a 10-million-euro restoration. https://www.thelocal.it/20241221/medici-secret-passageway-in-florence-reopens-after-refit Sat, 21 Dec 2024 10:15:07 +0100 medici-secret-passageway-in-florence-reopens-after-refit Florence authorities announced a ten-point plan aimed at addressing mass tourism amid complaints that a steep increase in visitor numbers has become unsustainable for the city and its residents. https://www.thelocal.it/20241114/florence-unveils-new-ten-point-plan-to-tackle-overtourism Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:00:50 +0100 florence-unveils-new-ten-point-plan-to-tackle-overtourism Newly discovered DNA could shed light on one of Italy's most famous cold cases, finally revealing the 'Monster of Florence' serial killer who murdered young couples in the 1970s and 80s. https://www.thelocal.it/20240802/dna-spurs-new-questions-in-italys-monster-of-florence-cold-case Fri, 02 Aug 2024 13:00:37 +0200 dna-spurs-new-questions-in-italys-monster-of-florence-cold-case Locals say Florence is becoming increasingly unliveable due to the impact of unregulated mass tourism. What's being done to keep the city alive? https://www.thelocal.it/20240216/whats-being-done-to-save-florence-from-mass-tourism Fri, 16 Feb 2024 15:12:13 +0100 whats-being-done-to-save-florence-from-mass-tourism Rescue teams Saturday worked to recover the body of a fifth person killed by the collapse of a supermarket under construction in Florence, as the Tuscan city held a day of mourning. https://www.thelocal.it/20240218/death-toll-at-florence-building-site-rises-to-five Sun, 18 Feb 2024 10:14:37 +0100 death-toll-at-florence-building-site-rises-to-five Public prosecutors in Florence have launched an investigation into a building site accident that caused the deaths of at least three workers on Friday morning. https://www.thelocal.it/20240216/italy-opens-investigation-after-florence-building-site-collapse-kills-three Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:49:35 +0100 italy-opens-investigation-after-florence-building-site-collapse-kills-three Craftsmen are being evicted to make way for hotels and holidays rentals in Florence, which locals say is suffering from the scourge of 'hit and run' tourism. https://www.thelocal.it/20240216/gone-forever-how-florences-artisans-are-being-pushed-out-by-tourism Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:39:29 +0100 gone-forever-how-florences-artisans-are-being-pushed-out-by-tourism Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci airport – the gateway to Tuscany’s world-famous wine country – may soon be getting an unusual upgrade under plans for a new international terminal. https://www.thelocal.it/20240209/revealed-florences-new-airport-to-feature-rooftop-vineyard Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:50:37 +0100 revealed-florences-new-airport-to-feature-rooftop-vineyard After the director of Florence's most famous museum caused outrage by saying mass tourism has turned the city into a "prostitute", The Local's readers in the city say she has a point - and politicians should listen before it's too late. https://www.thelocal.it/20240131/has-florence-really-been-crushed-by-mass-tourism Wed, 31 Jan 2024 17:47:30 +0100 has-florence-really-been-crushed-by-mass-tourism Mass tourism has turned Florence into a "prostitute", one of the city's museum directors said Monday, sparking outrage from politicians including Italy's culture minister. https://www.thelocal.it/20240130/museum-chief-brands-tourist-hit-florence-a-prostitute Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:18:30 +0100 museum-chief-brands-tourist-hit-florence-a-prostitute The 16th-century corridor above Florence's River Arno is set to open its doors to the public for the first time since 2016. https://www.thelocal.it/20231012/florences-vasari-corridor-to-reopen-in-may-after-renovation-work Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:25:09 +0200 florences-vasari-corridor-to-reopen-in-may-after-renovation-work