Travel influencers hold tremendous power these days when it comes to guiding vacation choices around the world. One recent story from a Polish content creator named Karo who posts under the handle Karosolotravel on TikTok has stirred up plenty of conversation online. She visited the historic Italian destination of Bologna expecting great food and charming streets yet left feeling utterly let down by what she encountered there. Her candid video pulled back the curtain on issues that many tourists notice but few dare to highlight so openly.
Karo described walking through the city and noticing an overpowering urine odor in almost every corner. She pointed out how the sidewalks and buildings looked grimy with layers of neglect that suggested no serious cleaning had taken place for a long time. Before her trip she had spotted some negative online reviews but brushed them aside after enjoying places like Naples and Venice despite similar warnings about those spots. This time the reality proved far worse than she anticipated and left her questioning why so many social media users recommend Bologna at all.
@karosolotravel The worst Italian city I've ever been to. It smell 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. 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. #bologna #italy #travel #dc #foryou ♬ La valse d´Amélie – Claudio Constantini
Her main reason for choosing the city was to savor authentic bolognese pasta yet the environment made her feel so unwell that she struggled to eat much of anything. Disappointed she decided to cut her visit short and head straight to the coastal town of Rimini instead. In hindsight she regretted not picking Verona or Florence where she feels certain she would have had a far more enjoyable experience. She even shared that no one could repay her for the lost money time and emotional energy from the whole ordeal.
The online reaction to her post quickly became divided between supporters and critics. Several locals including a city politician named Giovanni Favia actually backed up her observations and admitted that conditions in Bologna have been slipping. Other residents fired back with strong defenses calling her judgment unfair and telling her to stay home next time. Many fellow travelers also chimed in to praise the city as incredible and recall wonderful visits of their own.
Things took an unpleasant turn when Karo began receiving death threats and waves of personal insults after the video gained traction. In a conversation with the Italian newspaper Corriere di Bologna she encouraged angry commenters to grab pressure washers and tackle the streets rather than lash out at her. She stressed that focusing on real solutions would help everyone far more than sending hateful messages or emojis. As someone who works as a journalist too she remains glad the discussion has brought attention to an important topic.
@karosolotravel Piękne niebo nad Warszawą. #warszawa #poland #polska #warsaw #zachódsłońca #sunset #sky #beautiful #dc#foryou #foryoupage #fypシ ♬ STAY – The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
Karo emphasized that Bologna boasts rich history and stunning architecture that deserve much better care than they currently receive. She hopes her video will push city leaders toward meaningful improvements especially since her stay happened right before local elections. Drawing from her experiences back home she explained how popular Polish destinations wash their streets every single night using high pressure water particularly around monuments and tourist zones. She believes such simple steps make a huge difference in the modern era where cleanliness ranks as a basic expectation for visitors.
She also reminded everyone that tourists contribute through local residence fees and therefore have every right to anticipate decent standards on the ground. Without aiming to insult anyone Karo simply wanted to voice what she witnessed during her travels across Italy over the years. The people and the administration share responsibility in her view and she trusts that public feedback like hers can spark positive change. Her story serves as a helpful reminder for anyone planning Italian adventures to dig deeper into recent visitor reports beyond the glossy highlights.
If you have visited Bologna or are planning a trip to Italy tell us about your experiences with cleanliness in the comments.
