Spain-Italy border checks threaten summer travel for Tuscany's visitors

Spain announced Friday that it would introduce border controls for travellers arriving from Italy in retaliation for Rome imposing similar measures, France 24 reported. The rare spat between the EU nations came after tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco to Spain's North African territory Ceuta in an unprecedented, deadly rush.

Italy introduced its border controls following an influx of about 78,000 migrants from Morocco into the neighbouring Spanish exclave, the BBC reported. Spain had warned Italy it would impose entry checks on visitors unless Rome halts its controls by Sunday, according to Deutsche Welle, and the Italian government says it will continue its temporary suspension of Schengen until at least Aug. 15, Politico Europe reported.

For Tuscany, the dispute lands at the worst possible moment. August is the region's peak tourist month, when visitors from Spain and elsewhere in Europe crowd Florence's galleries, the Chianti hills, and the coastal resorts. Any friction at the borders threatens to disrupt the smooth travel that the Schengen area was designed to guarantee.