Italian cities lose identity to monoculture of consumption and tourism

A critical opinion piece on Artribune argues that Italian historic cities like Rome, Florence, Naples, and Bologna are losing their cultural plurality to a monoculture of consumption. Traditional workshops, bookshops, and ateliers are being replaced by pizzerias, kebab shops, and 'experience food' venues. Bologna is described as a 'mortadellificio' (mortadella factory), while Rome fills with industrial sandwich shops, Florence with copycat concept stores, and Naples with street food experiences that erase historic osterias. The author contends that gentrification expels residents, turning city centers into stages for temporary users. Beyond urbanism, Italian culture overall—music, cinema, fashion, television, contemporary art—is homogenized by market logic, visibility algorithms, and global codes. Street art has become decorative mall pattern, cinema repeats itself, fashion copies the past, and art chases brands. AI risks becoming the ultimate homogenizer, producing indistinct images, texts, and sounds. The author calls for rethinking the relationship between culture, economy, and urban space, valuing slowness, craftsmanship, and diversity, and treating culture as a vital ecosystem rather than a product. The piece is authored by an unnamed writer identified as an avvocato patrocinante in cassazione, docente di Legislazione dei Beni Culturali at Accademia Nazionale di Belle Arti di Brera, and presidente of Cultura Italiae, a recognized ONG UNESCO.