The centre of a world-famous city in Italy is dead, an expert has said. Francesco Calicchia, a sociologist and activist, said the historic heart of Naples has become a playground and an open-air shopping centre with locals pushed out.

Mr Calicchia said: "The historic centre of Naples is dead... Those streets aren't neighbourhoods anymore. There are no Neapolitans left." He suggested the problem was tourist numbers weren't being controlled or managed.

The Naples native told Politico there was no "real life" left in the centre of the city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In recent years, Naples has seen a boom in tourism, with visitors hailing not just from Europe, but also Asia, Australia, North America and South America.

While the city's tourism success has helped its economy, bringing jobs and new businesses, it has also fuelled a rise in short term lets.

This has led to a housing crisis, with locals priced out and displaced from Naples' historic centre.

A 2023 study found that listings on AirBnB in Naples increased by 553% between 2015 and 2019.

Rents for a flat in the historic centre have gone from between £432-£519 (550 to 600) euros a decade ago to £1,000-£1,200 (1,200-1,400 euros) today, according to Tourism Review.

Naples' poorer neighbourhoods appear to have borne the brunt of the price rises.

Chiara Capretti is a councillor and member of Resta Abitante, which campaigns for the right to housing. She told Politico: "If this were happening in wealthier neighborhoods, locals might absorb higher rents and rising costs.

"But in poorer districts, the impact is much harsher. The area stays poor — but now it’s also touristy." She said there has been a noticeable rise in evictions as a result.

While some cities in Italy have attempted to regulate the rise in short term lets, locals have called for support from the country's national government.

Ms Capretti said there is still no national law on short term rentals, meaning local officials can only do so much.