Tensions over mass tourism in Sevilla have erupted today after a string of Airbnb flats were vandalised in the city’s iconic Alameda de Hercules.

Walls were sprayed with ‘Fuera Airbnb’ graffiti, while key lockboxes used by holiday rentals were deliberately sabotaged after being stuffed with what appears to be silicone to stop them working.

Elsewhere, a large banner reading ‘Fuera Airbnb de Sevilla’ (Airbnb out of Sevilla) was unfurled on the famous Triana bridge.

A young activist group from called Juventud en Marcha said in a post on X: ‘Today dawns in Sevilla with a very clear message: Out with Airbnb from Sevilla!

‘Because we want cities for living, not theme parks that drive neighbours out of their own neighbourhoods.
Less tourism, more life.’

The coordinated incident took place in the early hours of Friday morning, with residents reporting that the paint of the graffiti was still fresh at daybreak.

Only properties linked to tourist rentals – identified by the presence of key lockboxes – were singled out.

Two Italian tourists staying in one of the affected flats admitted they felt uneasy after stepping outside and seeing the graffiti.

‘It’s a bit scary,’ they told respected newspaper El Correo de Andalucia.

Multiple lockboxes and door mechanisms were rendered unusable, covered in a hardened substance that prevented access, effectively locking guests out and disrupting check-ins.

The Alameda de Hercules has become a flashpoint in Sevilla’s tourism debate.

Classed as a ‘saturated’ area, the neighbourhood has seen a surge in holiday apartments in recent years, fuelled by platforms like Airbnb and a steady stream of visitors.

Locals say the impact is increasingly hard to ignore, including constant noise and overflowing rubbish to large crowds gathering during major events.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.