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A travel influencer sparked controversy after branding a popular city the ‘worst in Italy’ and claiming it was filthy. She was so unimpressed, she willingly lost money on her hotel booking so she could check out earlier

A travel influencer has labelled a city the “worst” in Italy, claiming she was so disappointed during her visit that she left early and deliberately lost out on money by cutting her stay short.

Yet her remarks have sparked controversy. This is likely because Italy remains an extraordinarily popular destination among holidaymakers and travel enthusiasts from all over the world.

Celebrated for its exceptional, world-class cuisine, elaborate architectural heritage, artworld masterpieces, prestigious fashion brands, rich historical tapestry and cultural significance, plus much more. Despite Italy’s abundant offerings, one woman has denounced one of its most popular cities, describing it as “filthy”.

Karo, who shares content online as @karosolotravel, turned to TikTok to voice her opinions about Bologna, a city celebrated for its extensive collection of UNESCO-designated medieval porticoes set among characterful red-roofed historic buildings.

It’s equally renowned and cherished for its indulgent pasta specialities, such as tortellini and tagliatelle al ragù, yet Karo remained underwhelmed.

Throughout the clips she recorded, she captured some graffiti daubed on metal waste bins and stone columns, along with a discarded cigarette end on the ground.

She additionally filmed a rough sleeper covered by a sleeping bag and blankets positioned outside a shop entrance. Karo also featured footage of multiple Bologna streets, which appeared deserted but otherwise pristine and devoid of any litter or vandalism.

During one segment, she directed the camera towards herself and filmed while she walked about with a tissue pressed against her nose, claiming the area smelt offensive. In the caption beneath her video, she wrote: “The worst Italian city I’ve ever been to. It smells of urine everywhere, it’s filthy, and you can tell it hasn’t been cleaned in years.

“Why aren’t the city authorities cleaning the streets and buildings? Those orange buildings are black. And that awful stench.”

Karo went on: “I came here to eat pasta bolognese, but I felt like vomiting and barely ate a thing! Why do people on TikTok recommend Bologna? It’s disgusting! I fled Bologna for Rimini, gave up on my hotel, and lost my money.”

However, other TikTok users were quick to dispute her assessment of the historic city. One commented: “I spent five days in Bologna last April. Walked everywhere including St Luca. TOTALLY DISAGREE. I LOVED BOLOGNA”.

Another said: “Bologna is beautiful!” while a third quipped: “Complaining that the 2000 year old buildings look like they are 2000 years old”.

A fourth person wrote: “One of the most beautiful cities I visited!!”

Meanwhile, someone claiming to be a resident shared: “Bologna became much much worse since it became a heavily touristy city. Mass tourism is destroying my city!”

Another user countered: “I respect your opinion but in my view, [it] does not represent the reality at all. I guess [you] didn’t match with the place. Bologna is an amazing city with unique character.

“I did not find it dirty at all and it was nice and tidy. In my view, I did find Bologna more authentic in comparison to other Italian cities.”

Tourists have been flocking to the hidden gem as a way to escape the cold weather, and Brits have the chance to discover the island paradise for themselves for quite a decent price

British tourists are flocking to a hidden gem of the Atlantic with flights from just £45 each way, beating the crowds to explore their own island paradise.

Many tourists are set to jet off to popular destinations over the summer, including the Canaries and the Balearics, with Tenerife, Lanzarote and Majorca big hits for many holidaymakers. However, whilst these holiday hotspots are great for a sun-soaked break, other islands are now becoming more popular.

Now, Portugal is fast becoming one the go-to destinations for travellers, with its blend of history, culture and food. But leave the bright lights of Lisbon and Porto behind, and the nation’s islands are where the real gems of the country can be found.

The first is Madeira an incredibly popular spot, with its own landscape, people and dialect — it has become its own little spot of Portugal that is distinctly different from the mainland, and is often tipped to be Europe’s answer to Hawaii.

The same can also be said of the Azores, which have had a completely different life to those living on the continent. The islands boast a much more relaxed way of life, whilst still basking in gorgeous temperatures, even in the depths of winter.

The island of Terceira, one of the largest islands in the archipelago has recently rocketed in popularity, thanks to its luscious green hills, immense nature and distinct culinary treats compared to the rest of the country. And with the mercury reaching an average of 21C in February, the island serves as the perfect getaway for tourists wanting a slower way of live.

Heading down to the sea coast, nature shows off its raw nature at the Biscoitos natural swimming pools, located in a small cove in the north of the island. With the islands being born from volcanic eruptions, the feeling the archipelago are still young runs right through the island.

The island is bursting with wildlife both on land and in the waters around it. Whale watching is an incredibly popular activity, as the animals use the warm water in the island’s bays to catch fish in a truly breathtaking experience. But if you are looking for something more adventurous on land, as there are hundreds of hills to hike to take in the beautiful nature surrounding you.

The Serra do Cume viewpoint is a popular hiking point on the island which shows off the beautiful landscape of the island, with hundreds of reviews from tourists speaking of the stunning views of the surrounding area. But if going up is not your thing, there are also incredible caves to explore, such as the Algar do Carvão, which is set to reopen this summer.

History is also key to Terceira, as the oldest city of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, is located on the island. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city used to serve as the capital of the archipelago and is still used today for local government tasks, as well as a military base for both the Portuguese and American air forces.

The local people on Terceira are also renowned for their hospitality and it is often that locals will invite a tourist back to their homes to cook for them. But for those who are not as comfortable to do so, there are plenty of luxurious restaurants offering a host of classic wines, including the world famous “vinho verde” — from Portugal itself.

It’s worth noting that there are no direct flights to Terceira from the UK, but there are still fairly easy routes to reach it. For example, Ryanair and easyJet offer flights to the likes of Porto, from which you can get connections onwards to Terceira. When we took a look on Skyscanner we could find fares from £45 each way, with March being one of the cheapest months for return tickets from £106.

There are plenty of accommodation options too, with Expedia offering options from £46 a night, while Booking.com has a handy guide to some of the island’s popular hotels.

Drew Binsky has visited all 197 countries in the world and has recently shared his top three African destinations, offering a comprehensive travel guide for those considering a trip to the continent

American YouTuber Drew Binsky, who has journeyed through all 54 African countries, has unveiled his top three picks, providing travel advice and handy tips for those eager to explore the continent. The content creator has set foot in all 197 countries worldwide, culminating his global tour with a visit to Saudi Arabia in 2021.

After recent trips to Australia and New Zealand with his parents, Drew has traversed every country in Africa and shared a snapshot of his five preferred destinations.

Drew hinted that his choices might surprise those contemplating a trip to Africa, remarking: “It might even make you book a flight out here to experience the adrenaline rush for yourself.”

Tanzania clinched the top spot on his African list, with Drew lauding the Hadzabe tribe as the “coolest people ever.”

Ethiopia claimed second position, with Drew confessing he was “obsessed” with the nation, while Namibia completed the top three, reports the Express.

Tanzania

The East African country of Tanzania, home to more than 66 million people, reigned supreme in Drew’s rankings, and the footage clearly illustrates why. This marked Drew’s fourth visit to the nation, where he admitted: “I could not get enough of this place right now,” according to the Express.

After spending time with the Hadzabe, among the last remaining hunter-gatherer communities in Africa, Drew ventured into Serengeti National Park to observe the zebra and wildebeest migration. His travels then led him to the famed Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

He observed: “I’ve never seen a crater in my life that’s this big. I mean, it goes on forever.”

Drew also travelled to Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest free-standing mountain, before heading to Zanzibar, which he described as having some of the “most beautiful beaches in the world.”

He continued: “If you can only visit one country in Africa, let it be Tanzania. It’s safe, the streets are clean, there are no scams here, everyone’s super nice, they speak English — you will absolutely love it.”

Ethiopia

Ethiopia, with a population exceeding 128 million, secured second place in Drew’s rankings. He praised the nation’s “many amazing cultures” and revealed he has visited nine times, urging travellers to explore beyond the capital, Addis Ababa.

Drew highlighted locations including Dire Dawa in the east and the ancient city of Harar, a UNESCO-recognised site steeped in Somali heritage.

He stated: “You have Lalibela, which is an amazing ancient Christian rock formation. And speaking of religion, Ethiopia is split between Islam and Christianity, and they have a really interesting branch of Christianity that’s really unique.”

The YouTuber also travelled to Tigray in northern Ethiopia, trekking to ancient churches carved into the mountainsides. His journey included the town of Gandha, notable for its significant Jewish community, and the Omo Valley in south-western Ethiopia, home to “some of the most incredible tribes in the world with fascinating traditions.”

He added: “Ethiopia has the best food in Africa. The best coffee in the world is there. I can go on and on about Ethiopia.”

Namibia

Completing Drew’s top three was Namibia, a south-west African nation with a population of just under three million. It is the world’s second least densely populated country, behind only Mongolia.

Drew said: “It’s one of the only places in the world where you can find beautiful sand dunes that intersect exactly with the ocean. Now I can finally see why everyone always falls in love with Namibia — this place is as good as it gets.”

His trip included a visit to Etosha National Park before heading to Windhoek, which he described as a “cool capital city.”

He remarked: “The people are so lovely and friendly, they speak great English.”

Lastly, Drew visited Sossusvlei, praising its “incredible nature” and the sight of trees emerging from the sand dunes. He added: “And of course, you have the Himba tribe near the Angola border in Namibia. They have the clay hair, and they’re just so cool. I really love visiting the tribes in Africa — it’s so enriching and so amazing to appreciate their cultures and traditions.”