Italian residents demand solutions to camper van parking crisis

In Servola (Trieste), the Mamàca motorhome facility celebrates its 20th anniversary. Management has passed from founder Edoardo to his daughter Carolina. Since the pandemic, demand for independent travel has increased, and the offer has expanded, replacing caravans. Customers come from as far as the US and travel across Europe.

Italian brand Giottiline, part of the Rapido Group, has introduced two new compact motorhome models: CX 64 and CX 69. Both are 2.15 m wide, 15–20 cm narrower than standard semi-integrated models. The 6.45 m CX 64 features a lounge with two longitudinal sofas, an electrically lowering bed (1.82 m), and a large rear bathroom. The 6.99 m CX 69 offers a queen-size bed, a combined bathroom, and a compact kitchen. Prices start at €58,700.

In Como, Italy, a motorhome driver with foreign plates was filmed emptying a chemical toilet into a public flowerbed. The incident sparked outrage among locals amid overtourism tensions.

In Baratti, Tuscany, the committee 'Cultura e Territorio da Baratti al Cornia' reports an increase in illegal motorhomes and tents in the pine forest and nearby parking areas. According to committee representative Massimiliano Talò, despite the municipality's promises to tighten controls, the situation has worsened compared to last year. The committee notes that the lack of actual police checks leads to impunity and threatens the area's ecosystem.

The Regional Administrative Court of Bolzano annulled a ban on overnight parking for motorhomes imposed by the municipal council of Selva di Val Gardena, ruling that the council lacked the authority to enact such a measure. The Italian National Camper Association challenged the ban, and the court sided with it, ordering the municipality to reimburse legal costs of approximately €20,000.

A new automated camper van area with 40 pitches is under construction in Cividate, Brescia province. The €240,000 project (80% funded by the Italian Ministry of Tourism) aims to attract travelers to the Valcamonica region. The site will feature electricity, water, toilets, and CCTV surveillance. Completion is expected by autumn 2026, with the first full season in spring-summer 2027.