Currents September 2019 Sept 2019_Currents web | Page 18

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Currents
September 2019
> continued from page 16
singing, eating, drinking and taking selfies. Navigat-
ing through this human traffic requires energy and
determination.
There were many more cafés than I had remem-
bered when I lived there, and all were packed with
visitors. Unfortunately some of the famous historic
favorites had either been closed or “remodernized” to
suit the needs of the new clientele.
Like many other places around the world, Flo-
rence is experiencing the negative repercussions of
overtourism. The historic center no longer belongs
to the locals. Now they prefer to stay in the periph-
eral areas where tourists rarely venture.
While tourism can help the local economy, over-
tourism strains the infrastructures. Furthermore, the
huge number of visitors to the museums and
churches endangers the city’s artistic treasures. The
local authorities have yet to find a workable solution
to control overtourism.
During my stay in Florence, I experienced an
emotional tug of war. On the one hand, I felt lucky to
have experienced this city when I could walk easily
into a church or museum without waiting in line,
when I could wander through the narrow streets and
explore the hidden secrets of this amazing city, when
I could meet my Florentine friends for an afternoon
espresso in the historic center.
On the other hand, I felt sad because today’s
tourists can’t experience the Florence I used to
know. But with the passing of time, places and peo-
ple change. Therefore, the tourists of today are expe-
riencing Florence as it is today - crowded, noisy,
expensive but still fascinating and beautiful.
In the future, I hope that the authorities in Flo-
rence will learn how to deal with overtourism. Then
the experience of those who revisit this city will be
sweeter and less bitter.