In the heart of the Dolomites, a controversy is brewing over one of the region's most picturesque trails. Mount Seceda and the green meadows that surround it have long been a magnet for tourists and photo-seekers. In high season, up to 8 people a day walk the Odle trail — and that number was the last straw for locals.
Images of queues on the trail are spreading across social media: hundreds of tourists form a long line for a single shot with the majestic mountain in the background. But behind the beautiful images lies a dark side to this popularity: the mountains are drowning in trash, and the trails are crumbling under the feet of thousands of people.
In early July, a group of local farmers decided to take radical action – they installed a turnstile and introduced a fee for entry: 5 euros per person, children go free. At first, the authorities of the Puez-Odle Natural Park dismantled the system, calling it illegal. But the farmers did not give in and returned the turnstile – this time for real.
Payment can be made in cash or by card right on the spot, there is a controller on duty. All collected funds, according to the land owners, will go to cleaning up garbage, restoring paths and preserving meadows.
The idea has sparked heated debate: some tourists are outraged by the “fee for nature,” while others support the farmers, believing that a paid entrance will discipline visitors and help preserve the unique beauty of the region.
