Tech-savvy and compact: the motorhome goes smart

In Gassino Torinese, Italy, the former Olindo Fiore sports field in Bussolino has been converted into a free parking area for five motorhomes. The project cost €82,000 (€50,000 from regional funds and €32,000 from the municipal budget), drawing criticism from the opposition. Maurizio Gazzara, leader of the Gassino Insieme list, argued the funds should have been used for road and sidewalk repairs instead. He also cited a 1985 notarial deed stating the land was designated for social and cultural facilities, not parking. The parking regulations were approved by a majority vote, but the debate continues.

In Tolentino, unknown individuals broke the window of a parked motorhome, entered, drank beer, and left a mess. The owners had to postpone their planned trip to the sea. Damage to the window is estimated at 500 euros. The incident was reported to the carabinieri.

Italian manufacturer Rimor has introduced the Sarus 66 Plus, a motorhome measuring 7.44 m in length, 2.34 m in width, and 2.94 m in height, with an interior height of 2.07 m. The model accommodates four adults and features a rear double bed, a drop-down bed above the dinette, a kitchen with a gas hob, a separate toilet and shower. It is built on a Fiat Ducato chassis with a 2.2 Multijet diesel engine producing 140 hp and a 6-speed manual transmission. Fuel tank capacity is 80 L, fresh water tanks are 20+60 L, and grey water tank is 100 L. The garage measures 750×700 mm. Prices start from €70,000.

Francesco Caldarola, 34, from Trani, left his career as a cultural consultant to live in a 1974 caravan of about 10 sq m. In September 2024, he traveled to Sicily without a plan, working on olive harvests, in a restaurant, and at a circus school. He later converted an abandoned garden into a micro-campsite. He is now seeking a plot in Apulia, facing regulatory restrictions on parking.

Writer Marella Giovannelli has published 'Carmela. La vita in cammino di uno spirito libero', a non-fiction account of 77-year-old Carmela Scarvaglieri, who lives alone in a motorhome and travels between Sardinia and Morocco. The book is based on interviews and describes her life without embellishment, including her decision at age 48 to leave a comfortable life for freedom.

M5S group leader Maria Grazia Ciolfi criticized the Latina administration for a motorhome parking area project, calling it unsubstantiated. She stated the document was signed only by the assessor, lacked technical validation and economic feasibility. Ciolfi highlighted unresolved coastal issues: a degraded bike path, absent lifeguards, erosion, and the closed Rio Martino canal. She urged prioritizing basic services before new projects.