Beautiful Italian village introduces resident-only zones

An idyllic village nestled in the Italian Alps has introduced measures to limit tourism after an influx of selfie-seeking visitors. Funes is a tiny settlement in the Italian – but predominantly German-speaking – South Tyrol province, located near the country’s border with Austria. Known locally as Villnöß (pronounced FIL-NUHS), it’s famed for the awe-inspiring beauty of its mountainous landscape, which was once enjoyed mostly by its small population of 2,500 residents and a small number of visitors.

But in recent times, Funes’ views of the Odles peaks, and the sumptuous beauty of its meadows and forests, have attracted viral levels of attention on social media. The exposure has brought a large number of tourists to the once peaceful, secluded spot. Visitors reportedly now come from all over the world, including from as far away as China, South Korea, and Japan.

Hundreds of people now drive up the narrow road to the village to get Instagram-worthy snaps of the village’s charming 15th-century Santa Maddalena church with the mountain range in the background as the sun sets.

The village relies on agriculture and sustainable tourism, but the overwhelming attention it’s been getting has proved too much for residents to bear, triggering rows between residents and daytrippers.

In response to the traffic jams, littering, and trespassing the tourism surge has reportedly caused, local authorities are taking action in a bid to calm local tensions in the high season, The Times reports.

From mid-May until November, barriers will reportedly be put up on the road up to the village, with only locals and those with overnight bookings permitted to enter.

Those seeking a photo of the view will have to take 15-minute walk up a footpath instead.

It’s reportedly the second time this approach has been tried, with attempts to erect barricades three years ago circumvented by visitors, some of whom drove around them.

The barriers will be going up in a wider section of the road this year to avoid buildups of traffic and will be managed by staff.

The village is also expected to increase the existing €4 (£3.48) parking fee, though a figure hasn’t been decided yet, The Times reports.