Anyone visiting this historic city in Europe will have to say goodbye to a common travel habit: rolling suitcases. From now on, the transport of this type of luggage is prohibited in the historic center, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. The measure, approved by local authorities, aims to reduce the noise caused by wheels on stone sidewalks and protect the tranquility of residents.
According to Portal 6, a Brazilian news website, residents of Dubrovnik, Croatia, had been complaining for several years about the constant sound of suitcases echoing through the narrow, cobbled streets. The noise, visible especially during busy times, had become a permanent source of annoyance and a recurring theme at municipal assemblies. After several complaints and impact studies, the municipality decided to move forward with the ban.
How the new rule will work
According to the same source, visitors are still allowed to bring suitcases, but will have to carry them manually from the city’s entrances to their respective accommodation. To facilitate the process, some hotels and local accommodation have already created luggage transport services: tourists leave their bags at specific points and authorized teams are responsible for delivering them directly to their rooms.
The objective, explain the Dubrovnik authorities, is to preserve the historic environment and reduce noise pollution in one of the most visited medieval centers in Europe. The decision is part of a broader set of measures aimed at balancing tourism with the quality of life of the local population.
Less noise, more sustainability
According to , this is not the city’s first initiative to control the impact of tourism. There is already a daily limit on cruise ships and strict control over the number of visitors within the walls.
These actions are part of a sustainable management plan that seeks to protect heritage, reduce pressure on infrastructure and ensure that the city remains habitable for residents.
Despite the restrictions, authorities say the objective is not to keep tourists away, but rather to promote more conscious tourism. The constant sound of wheels, heard at any time of the day, was a symbol of mass tourism that the city is now trying to moderate.
The impact on the visitor experience
For many travelers, the new rule may represent an additional challenge. Transporting suitcases by hand along steep streets or using paid delivery services will require more planning. Still, local authorities argue that the measure will make the experience more authentic and peaceful, allowing visitors to appreciate heritage in a more responsible way.
The historic center of Dubrovnik, with its centuries-old sidewalks and narrow alleys, was built long before the arrival of modern tourist flows. The weight and noise of the suitcases, explain municipal officials, were causing physical damage to the old stones, accelerating the wear of the pavement.
A trend that could expand
Tourism experts point out that Dubrovnik’s decision reflects a growing trend in Europe, where several historic cities are seeking to limit mass tourism and strengthen the protection of urban heritage. Venice, for example, has already implemented entry fees for daily visitors, and Florence has been studying similar measures.
In Dubrovnik, the change is symbolic: the noise of wheels will give way to the sound of waves and conversations on the terraces. A city that once echoed the sound of suitcases is now trying to recover the silence that once defined its charm.
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