A gang of activists known as the ‘Robin Hood Squad’ have attacked properties in a controversial protest against the proliferation of short-term rentals.
This group, which takes its name from the mythical character who stole from the rich to give to the poor, is fighting overtourism in major Italian cities including Rome, Florence and Venice.
They argue that platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo are destroying the fabric of local communities, deepening Italy’s housing crisis by raising rents and pushing residents out in favor of visitors.
One tactic, widely documented on Italian social media, involves vandalizing lock boxes containing keys to bed and breakfasts, preventing tourists from accessing their accommodation.
Vandals leave behind Robin Hood-style hats and letters describing their acts of vandalism as attacks on the rich, a nod to growing anti-establishment activity around the world.
While the unrest has divided opinion, with many condemning the targeting of tourists and private property, the Robin Hood protests have exposed the dark side of tourism in one of Europe’s most popular countries.
Demonstrations recently broke out in Bologna, where the words: “Stop Airbnb!” were written on the window of the tourist office on Via Gerazzi. Robin Hood.”
A note on the wall next to the message read: “If Bologna is not seeing an increase in tourism like other European cities, it is still not livable. It is still the second most expensive city in Italy. And so we must continue to strike down those who distort the wealth in Face others.
The group targeted several major tourist centres, including Turin, Palermo and Naples, damaging the locks that are a hallmark of online rental properties.
Last week, a poster was found on a gate near the Colosseum in Rome with instructions on how to join the movement.
according to Bologna todayThe letter read: “The locks we vandalized are nothing more than a symptom of the deteriorating tourism business on all fronts.”
What do people think of the Robin Hood protests?
After the Italian news company posted videos of Robin Hood protests on Instagram VD NewsPeople were quick to share their opinions, both for and against the group’s actions.
to:
- I do not agree with these actions. But I realize that the housing emergency exists, and the state is doing nothing to address the problems of overtourism and citizens abandoning the cities.
- “It always ends up like this: If the state doesn’t do something, people start taking justice into their own hands, the way they can, whether it’s legal or not.” It would be nice to have a state that protects it in an organized way, but we don’t have that luxury in Italy.
- ‘Those who don’t understand [these activists] I don’t know how painful it is to have a job but still be forced to live with your parents because you can’t pay 700 euros a month in rent.
against:
- “Stupidity mixed with vandalism. I would also add ignorance of not understanding what we need to ‘fight’ against. The right to a home is not guaranteed by another citizen, who may make his home for sacrifices, choose for a thousand different reasons, and pay taxes and expenses. It is the same false statement as someone who occupies Someone else’s home because he does not have a home from the state.
- Doing so only punishes people who act honestly and in accordance with the law. You have to hit the state, not the people.
- “You are the same people who go on vacation looking for housing at the lowest possible price. Ridiculous vandals.
- “These are criminals committing crimes.” Private property is sacred.
“That is why we will continue to vandalize the locks just as we will continue to vandalize all the other symptoms of the right to housing denied in Italy.”
The memo encourages people to buy the glue, then sabotage the locks by “obstructing them”, before leaving behind a Robin Hood symbol such as a hat or feather.
It is believed that the protests began in Rome last year. according to La RepubblicaThe vandalism occurred on San Teodoro Street, between the Circus Maximus and the Palatine Hill, the old heart of the capital.
A note left at the scene said: “If you are looking for key safes and can’t find them, read this.”
We rebel. We have removed these key storage bins to denounce the city’s sale of short holidays which alienates locals and leaves residents on the streets.
Protesters claimed rents had risen “dramatically” in recent years, and called on Rome’s mayor, Robert Gualtieri, to set a “maximum threshold” for properties used as short-term rentals.
Tourism prices in Rome
Italy has welcomed an increasing number of visitors in recent years. Rome, in particular, saw the highest growth in foreign arrivals in 2024, with the number of visitors increasing by 5% compared to 2023.
This year, Rome and Vatican City will host its Jubilee or “Holy Year” with a series of celebrations, which is expected to attract about 35 million visitors.
However, the Robin Hood-like protesters showed their disdain for the events to come. Their letters stated: “This is only the first action we are taking against the sacred Sunnah of the rich.”
To Rome or not to Rome?
As part of our roundup of unmissable destinations for 2025, subway Gave you the lowdown on places to avoid. The list includes hotspots attacking overtourism and resorts on the front line of the climate crisis.
We noticed that Rome The year 2025 will be exceptionally busy, as it marks the Holy Year of Jubilee. The Italian capital is set to become a center for global pilgrimage, with more than 35 million people expected to flock there throughout the year.
Last year, Venice introduced a “tourist tax” requiring short-stay visitors to pay an “entry fee” of €5.
Simone Venturini, the city councilor responsible for tourism and social cohesion, said the system would help find a “new balance” between residents and day-trippers.
However, after it was announced, residents protested, with many saying it would do nothing to combat overtourism. Some said they didn’t want to live in a “theme park.”
The Italian demonstrations follow a broader backlash against tourists across Europe.
In October last year, thousands took to the streets of Madrid to protest sky-high house prices and the influence of holiday rental sites.
Barcelona also witnessed many demonstrations. In the summer, demonstrators armed with water pistols demanded that “tourists go home”, while tens of thousands protested in the city in November, demanding a reduction in house prices.
Winter holiday destinations have also been hit. Last month, protests were held in Rovaniemi, Finland, the “official residence of Santa Claus,” which is located on the edge of the Arctic Circle.
Participants called on the government to set rules for short-term rentals, as the small city – with a population of only 65,000 people – suffers from challenges posed by excessive tourism.
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