Italy is drowning in an embarrassment of riches – from Venice to Florence, Naples to Rome, the country often features as a top destination on any traveller’s wish list. While all of this may be good for business, unsustainable levels of mass tourism are pushing locals out of some cities in the country.

The most extreme example is Venice: At its peak in the 20th century, more than 120,000 people called it home; today the population is under 55,000, while nearly 90,000 tourists can visit on a typical summer day. Meanwhile, countless picturesque towns and landmarks go unseen, because tourists rarely know they exist.