The crisp mountain air, usually filled with the gentle hum of ski lifts and the laughter of winter sports enthusiasts, was instead thick with the scent of grilling meat and the frustrated shouts of exasperated locals. Roccaraso, the beloved Abruzzo ski resort, found itself under siege this past Sunday, as an unprecedented wave of 10,000 Neapolitans descended upon its slopes, turning a picturesque winter escape into a chaotic, snow-covered picnic ground.
The Invasion of Roccaraso: A Day Trip Gone Wild
It was a scene that quickly went viral across social media platforms: hundreds of videos depicted a sea of people, many equipped not with skis or sleds, but with plastic ‘pans’ to slide down the snowy hills. The sheer volume of visitors meant that designated slopes were overwhelmed, leading to collisions and widespread disarray. “They were coming down like crazy, hitting people like bowling pins,” recounted Gaia, a woman in her forties who was among the thousands who arrived by bus for a low-cost day trip.
The numbers were staggering: 220 buses, some reports suggesting even more, poured into Roccaraso from Naples and its surrounding province, effectively paralyzing the SS17 highway. The local mayor, overwhelmed by the unforeseen deluge, reportedly called for military assistance to manage the chaos. Beyond the traffic gridlock, the resort faced a litany of issues: abandoned waste littered the white landscape, restaurants reportedly turned away desperate patrons, and queues for restrooms stretched for hours.
The Allure of the Low-Cost Excursion
These mass excursions, priced at a mere 20-30 euros per person, including return transport and a sandwich, have gained immense popularity through social media. Travel agencies, in collaboration with influential figures like Rita De Crescenzo, have tapped into a desire for affordable getaways. What was once a traditional winter destination for Neapolitans with second homes has become the target of a ‘hit-and-run’ tourism model, leaving little but disruption in its wake.
A Community Divided: “We’re Being Insulted”
The aftermath of the ‘invasion’ has been marked by a fierce online debate. Many of the Neapolitan visitors expressed feeling unfairly targeted and subjected to insults. “We are being insulted, they call us ‘Zulu,’ some even wish death upon us,” shared Angela, who visited Roccaraso with her husband and two young children. She argued that the criticism was unjust, emphasizing that her family enjoyed their trip despite the crowds. Angela also pointed out the economic benefit for local businesses: “For Roccaraso, it may have been an assault on their home, but it wasn’t our fault, and I think the bars have never earned as much as last Sunday: they’ll be fine for the next 6 months. Imagine, we spent 64 euros for 8 hot chocolates!”
Massimino, one of the tour organizers, dismissed the controversy. “What controversy? I bring my groups to Roccaraso and make them have fun, and if there are uncivilized people, I don’t bring them; with me, only polite people.”
Eyewitness Accounts: Delays, Disappointment, and Barbecues on the Snow
Not all visitors, however, shared Angela’s positive experience. Gaia, a twenty-year-old Neapolitan, described her day as a disaster. “Unfortunately, it went badly because no one expected so many people to arrive. There were inconveniences everywhere, starting with the restaurants, they even closed the doors in our faces every time you tried to ask for an available table, to transport with shuttles and taxis occupied, up to the toilets where there were hours of queues, not to mention the environment entirely mistreated by people who have no regard and took Roccaraso as a place for picnics.”
Carmine Bruno, a 28-year-old from Naples, recounted a day fraught with delays. His bus departed Naples almost an hour and a half late, and upon arrival in Roccaraso at 10 AM, passengers were kept on board for over two hours due to the sheer volume of vehicles. Once on the slopes, navigating the crowds was a challenge, even for ski lifts. He also corroborated reports of impromptu barbecues and fires lit for warmth. The return journey proved even more arduous, with a scheduled 4 PM departure pushed back by three hours due to the ongoing chaos. Some users criticized the local municipality for its apparent lack of preparedness in handling such a massive influx of tourists.
New Measures and the Future of Low-Cost Tourism
In response to the widespread disruption, a summit was held at the Prefecture in L’Aquila, leading to new measures aimed at managing future tourist flows. These include alternating license plate numbers for buses arriving in Roccaraso and four other municipalities in the area. Despite the controversy, offers for day tours to the Abruzzo ski resort continue to proliferate on social media, particularly TikTok, with many users expressing their eagerness to participate. The low-cost formula remains popular, but with the implementation of new ordinances, the price and the experience of these excursions may soon change.
Source: https://napoli.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/25_dicembre_23/roccaraso-invasione-2025-b99c4a96-019c-4559-8744-c1653de13xlk.shtml
