In a bid to curb a surge of selfie-seeking tourists, an Italian mountain village has resorted to installing barriers, a decision sparked by growing tensions between locals and visitors. The picturesque hamlet of Funes, nestled in the South Tyrolean Alps, has seen a sharp rise in tourism after its charm captivated social media users worldwide.

What was once a serene retreat is now bustling with travelers, leading to increased incidents of littering, trespassing, and traffic congestion. The influx has not been well-received by the 2,500 residents of the village, many of whom have expressed frustration over the disruption to their daily lives.

As tensions mounted, clashes erupted between locals and tourists, with some villagers resorting to verbal and even physical confrontations to express their discontent. In response to this growing unrest, local authorities have opted to implement access restrictions to manage the flow of visitors.

According to Italian news source Corriere, from mid-May to November, barriers will be erected to limit road access exclusively to holidaymakers with confirmed hotel reservations. This measure aims to restore tranquility to the village while maintaining a sustainable level of tourism.

The village has now decided to install barriers from mid-May to November, which will close the road to all holidaymakers except those with hotel bookings, according to Italian news outlet Corriere.

This means tourists will have to take a 15-minute walk up a footpath to enjoy the mountain view, which the council hopes will discourage people coming for the day.

Barriers were similarly installed three years ago, however visitors would simply follow residents in or drive around the structures.

For this reason, the new barriers will be moved further up the road where staff will be on the lookout to control entry. Fees for parking will also be increased.

Funes in South Tyrol has been taken over by crowds of tourists trying to get the perfect selfie

The village has decided to install barriers from mid-May to November

The popularity of the area on social media reportedly stems from an image of the church and mountain being printed on sim cards by a Chinese phone operator 

The council chief for social welfare, Roswitha Moret Niederwolfsgruber, hit out at the tourists as having ‘no respect,’ claiming they ‘walk into people’s gardens and leave their cars where they want’.

She told The Times: ‘They want that photo at all costs. We are not living anymore.’

Niederwolfsgruber said their aim with these new measures is to stop ‘hit and run’ visitors who wrought havoc rather than block all tourism.

‘We’re giving you the chance to come, leave your car and enjoy our village,’ she said.

This comes as residents have reportedly ‘sworn at tourists’ because of their behaviour.

A source from a local hotel said that the situation could turn violent, adding: ‘There are cases where schoolkids have attacked visitors on buses.’

The popularity of the area on social media, especially amongst Asian tourists, reportedly stems from an image of the church and mountain being printed on sim cards by a Chinese phone operator in 2005.

In addition, influencers in China have said that the range inspired the mobile phone mountain emoji.

A video on social media offered a ‘lazy guide’ to tourists on how to quickly see – but not climb – the Dolomites.

The president of the Italian Alpine Club walkers’ association, Carlo Zanella, told The Times that visitors were on a jam-packed schedule.

‘They arrive in coaches in the morning. They’re at Cortina by the afternoon and Venice by the evening. They go to Florence and Rome from there, visiting Italy in a week,’ he said.

Their aim with these new measures is to stop ‘hit and run’ visitors

There have been clashes with tourists and locals

Asian tourism has expanded in South Tyrol. Seceda, another valley, was stormed by tourists after a photo of the Odles was shown during a presentation of the iPhone 15 in 2023.

Other picturesque locations in Europe have seen a similar trend. The Lofoten Islands in northern Norway experienced intense traffic jams in 2025 due to fjord tourism.

Another spot that has come under severe pressure from overtourism is Mont-Saint-Michel, a tidal island in Normandy, France.

Famous for its dramatic Gothic abbey perched on a rocky islet, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site which attracts around 3 million visitors to its narrow streets each year, causing long queues and damage.

The Austrian lakeside village of Hallstatt, which is a World Heritage Site, is also struggling, with just over 700 inhabitants but getting up to as many as 10,000 visitors a day during high season.

And Bibury in Gloucestershire, which was crowned first in a ranking of the 50 most beautiful villages in the world last year by Forbes, can attract up to 20,000 visitors on weekends – more than 30 times its ordinary population.

But with coaches of day trippers navigating narrow roads, the rise in tourists has led to traffic congestion, parking disputes and gridlocks.