Portofino, the jewel of the Italian Riviera, famed for its stunning harbour, luxurious lifestyle, and VIP visitors, now finds itself at the centre of a surprising and contentious issue: a crackdown on air conditioning units. With a year-round population of just 379, Portofino is a magnet for the rich and famous. However, even the affluent are discovering that money can’t buy everything, as an air conditioning ban threatens their comfort amid scorching temperatures in the coastal village.
This ban has ignited a wave of neighbourly “vendettas”, with residents reporting each other, leading to an atmosphere of suspicion and tension in this otherwise tranquil paradise, the Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera reported. So why has Italy’s wealthiest municipality imposed such a ban? Let’s take a closer look. Tit-for-tat accusations As temperatures in the coastal village soar to 40 degrees Celsius, residents have taken matters into their own hands by installing air conditioning units without official approval.
To avoid detection, locals have cleverly hidden these units on terraces and rooftops, even painting them in bright colours to blend with the surroundings. Now, the authorities are mounting their vigil against such practices. The local police was actively searching the village’s narrow streets and alleyways for unauthorised units.
According to The Guardian , between January and May, 22 illegal units were spotted on rooftops and terraces, with an additional 15 insta.