Town overrun by 75,000 tourists sparking 'gridlock' as sightseers wait 'hours'

Tens of thousands of tourists swarmed a small town over the May Day bank holiday - creating a "gridlock" that halted traffic and left other sightseers waiting "hours" to get in.

The 75,000 sparked fury after descending on the narrow streets of Sirmione, a village of just 8,000 residents on the scenic shores of Lake Garda in . The site, known for its Roman ruins, is home to a number of thermal baths and the majestic 13th-century Scaligero Castle. Sightseers were reportedly just to make it through the town centre gates over the weekend as vast crowds "overran" the area.

A whopping 75,000 visitors are reported to have landed on the resort to visit the fortress, according to The Sun. Shocking footage circulated online showing throngs of travellers piling into the area. The endless sea of people stopped caused gridlock traffic for residents in cars and electric buses, with locals left outraged by the deluge.

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"Overrun by tourists — chaos, gridlock, and hours of waiting," said one on X recalling the chaotic spectacle. "A crisis that must be urgently addressed and regulated. It damages our heritage and turns the experience into a negative one."

Another disgruntled user said: "Overtourism is what happens when presence is confused with existence. Fast, loud, empty. Like fast fashion — disposable and harmful. Travel less, mean more."

Marco Merlo, president of the hotel and restaurant operators association, told the Times that he was "very worried about public safety and the quality of life for tourists, residents and workers." He said: "We hope the council will involve us in finding effective and widely agreed strategies."

A local group called Siamo Sirmione ('We Are Sirmione') also spoke out against overtourism in their home city - which has been famously linked to historical figures such as Sigmund Freud to James Joyce. "If this is the council’s management model the risk is not just hardship for residents but a real and lasting harm for the tourism and image of Sirmione," the group wrote.

Roberto Salaorni, the official responsible for transport admitted the crowds could have been managed better. He said: "This is the first thing to do, possibly installing a barrier at the entrance to the castle, which would enable us to manage exceptional situations such as we saw on Friday."

But he added he’d never "seen so many people" visiting Sirmione or the neighbouring towns. Italy is among a number of European destinations that have been fighting against high levels of tourism. In Venice, local officials were forced to limit large tourist groups - but the rule has long been ignored.