Pastry queues in the Dolomites: the tourist crush Molise knows too well

Hundreds of people overwhelmed a mountain hut in the Italian Dolomites this week, not for the panoramic views but in search of a creamy pastry, according to the Guardian. The scene at the Friedrich August refuge, where influencer videos drew long queues, has reignited the debate about social-media-driven tourism in Italy.

The episode is the latest instance of a phenomenon that has reshaped travel across the country: a single online post can turn an obscure spot into a crowded destination overnight. For the Molise bureau, the story carries a particular irony — this region has spent years trying, with limited success, to attract even a fraction of the attention that now besieges an Alpine hut.