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 installations detected since June as the heatwave intensified. Earlier, there were reports in the Italian media that said that police is increasing patrols and flying drones to keep a tab on residents. However, Portofino’s mayor, Matteo Viacava, refuted such claims.
“It all began last winter when someone put in an air conditioning unit that covered a big part of a very narrow street,” he told the Guardian. “The summers have been getting much hotter and July and August have been sweltering and very humid. It’s not that we want people to suffer and have their sleep disrupted by the heat.
..We all depend on AC now.
But Portofino is located in a regional park and there are rules that need to be respected,” he added. This crackdown has even led to a feeling of “vendetta” among neighbours. “You reported me, so now I’m going to report you” has become the prevailing sentiment in the resort town, noted the Corriere della Sera.
In some cases, people have reportedly accepted an invitation into the home of a neighbour, only to secretly take a photo of a unit that they have then passed on to police. The authorities have received approximately 40 complaints about these installations, and more are expected as the heat continues to fuel tensions. Violators face fines of up to €43,000 (Rs 39 lakh) if prosecuted in court, making the illegal installation of air conditioning units a costly gamble amidst the relentless summer heat.
Why Portofino banned ACs? The enforcement campaign, led by Mayor Matteo Viacava, is designed to protect Portofino’s aesthetic and environmental integrity. Since 1935, Portofino has been part of a regional national park and only recently, the regulations were relaxed to allow AC units on its pastel-coloured buildings after a complete ban. Residents must now seek permission from authorities to install AC units and ensure they are discreetly placed to maintain the town’s natural beauty.
“We just want to ensure that the constraints are respected and the beauty of Portofino is maintained,” Mayor Viacava told The Guardian . “They need to be put in places that are not visible. Slowly, slowly, we are getting it all in order.
” The mayor also hinted at a future crackdown on satellite dishes to further preserve the town’s picturesque appearance. “It is not sustainable to have so many,” he told Corriere della Sera . Cracking down on these “will also help preserve the integrity of the town.
” Portofino is a favourite among celebrities, with Madonna recently spotted arriving for a party hosted by Dolce and Gabbana. Earlier this summer, Portofino hosted 800 guests at a pre-wedding party for billionaires Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, costing a reported €139 million (Rs 1,278 crore). With input from agencies.
