Naples, the city that for decades was Synonym of Maradonaoverflowing passion and persistent shadow of the camorralive an unexpected transformation today: hordes of tourists invade her by changing her identity at a dizzying pace. What was previously a landscape of football, mafia and popular life has become a decoration for selfies, endless queues and tourist floors that expel the neighbors.
A mirage. Yes, Naples, vibrant and chaotic city, has become In symbol of how mass tourism transforms to the most recent traditions into prefabricated products for visitors. The Pulcinella statueignored for years by Neapolitanos themselves, was high to folk rite Thanks to the invention of influencers and today It concentrates endless tails of tourists looking to rub their nose in search of good luck.
For the premises, the paradox It is evident: It is a tradition without roots, consumed as an empty show. Thus, the Historic Center of the City, once a community life fabric, It is described now by activists such as an outdoor theme park, where stores, bars and souvenirs They have replaced To everyday life.
The silent eviction. The most palpable impact is observed In the house. The proliferation of tourist rentals has transformed entire neighborhoods into A B&B MOSAICexpelling families with decades of roots. In some popular districts there is already a tourist accommodation for every three homes. The evictions multiply and many inhabitants are replaced by passage or students.
The History of Giuseppe Gigliowho lost his home when his landlord decided to convert the building in tourist apartments, reflects a systematic process: homes cease to be homes to become speculative assets. The phenomenon is not limited to small owners: much of the market is in the hands of companies or large lessorsand the profits rarely remain in Naples, flowing to richer cities in the north or even abroad.
Showcase. The transformation does not only affect housing, but also Urban identity. Streets that were cultural axes, such as Via Toledohave been filled with identical restaurants and tourist businesses, replacing historical bookstores with taverns or thematic bars.
The multiplication of fast food stores has exacerbated Waste problems and has reduced community life to constant consumption, while homeless or the most vulnerable neighbors are pushed outside the center. Even churches, in the past centers of community life, have been relegated to mere Visitors attractionslosing its function of place of worship. The result is a less habitable city for those who support it and flatter for those who visit it.
A political problem. Local authorities They recognize The magnitude of the challenge, but denounces that they lack tools to act without a national legal framework. The attempts of some regions of limiting the number of tourist floors have been blocked by the government Central of Giorgia Meloni, who defends the “market freedom.”
Even new laws, such as The urban reform Promoted by Matteo Salvini, they have facilitated the conversion of housing in tourist accommodations. Thus, the regulatory vacuum converts the center of Naples into paid terrain For speculationwhile traveling to its neighbors towards the periphery.
A paradox. Tourism defenders argue that they create opportunities and jobs, and in some cases it has allowed families to escape poverty by turning floors into B&BS or opening bars. But the problem arises when the entire economy of a neighborhood It depends on a tourist flow that can fade, as demonstrated by the Recent descents In arrivals.
The lack of a “plan B” leaves small entrepreneurs at the mercy of a volatile market, which can evaporate as fast as it arose. Ironically, some tourists already They start complaining that the city feels too homogeneous, saturated with repetitive food stores and experiences designed only for them.
Identity erosion. If you want also, which attracts visitors (authenticity, street life, cultural mixture) is precisely what is most threatened. The risk is that, instead of a living city, Naples becomes An empty decorationa showcase that is consumed and abandoned.
Without policies that balance the protection of residents with tourism management, the city is in danger of losing what makes it unique. As They warn Activists and academics, what is eroding is not only urban space, but the right of Neapolitans to remain protagonists of their own city.
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