Florence cracks down on overtourism as it hosts G7 ministers in Renaissance city

People line up to enter in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence (Domenico Stinellis/AP)

The city of Florence took new measures on Tuesday to crack down on overtourism, just as the Italian government hosts the Group of Seven tourism ministers in the Renaissance city and seeks to significantly boost the country’s place as a top visitor destination.

Mayor Sara Funaro’s cabinet approved a 10-point plan that, among other things, would ban key boxes on buildings in Florence’s historic centre as well as the use there of loudspeakers by tour guides, a statement from City Hall said.