As tourists move in, Italians are squeezed out on Capri island

CAPRI, Italy: Famed for its blue seas, breathtaking views and cove-studded coastline, the Mediterranean island of Capri has been a tourist haven since the early years of the Roman empire.

Unlike in the imperial heyday, when emperors made it their exclusive playground, Capri now attracts visitors from around the world, clogging its narrow alleys, packing the piazzas and blocking the beaches during the hot summer months.

As many as 16,000 tourists a day pour onto the rocky isle in peak season, outnumbering the 12,900 residents. Most are day trippers, but increasing numbers stay the night as ever more homes are given over to holiday lets, bringing its own problems.

“Capri is becoming a dormitory for tourists,” said Teodorico Boniello, head of the local consumers’ association. “There are more people coming than we can cope with and families can’t set down roots because they can’t afford to stay.”

Capri is a microcosm of many European holiday hotspots. Locals depend on visitors for their livelihoods, but the advent of mass tourism risks turning their picture-perfect beauty spots into blobs of shuffling humanity. Some Italian towns and islands are starting to push back, albeit gently.