Lignano Declares 'Tutto Gas' a Success Despite Thefts and Brawls Over Pentecost Weekend

Massive Influx Hits the Resort

The main square, Piazza della Fontana, served as the focal point of the celebrations on Sunday evening, prompting a number of police interventions. Authorities issued fines to 14 Austrians for playing loud music during night-time hours, committing lewd acts in public and urinating in the street.

Separately, the Carabinieri reported a 19-year-old Austrian who was found in possession of a folding knife with a 17-centimetre blade. He was reported to the judicial authorities.

Fines, a Knife and a Ferrari

In another incident, a 41-year-old man from Friuli was stopped while driving a Ferrari with Austrian licence plates. A breathalyser test came back positive and he was handed an administrative penalty.

Residents took to social media to voice frustration. One local wrote on Facebook: "Auch dieses Jahr ist es zur Barbareninvasion gekommen. Die Gewinne bleiben bei den Lokalbetreibern, die Schäden trägt die Gemeinde Lignano: Ein fragwürdiges Geschäft," meaning 'This year too there has been a barbarian invasion. The profits stay with the bar owners, the costs are borne by the municipality of Lignano – a questionable business.'

Despite such criticism, city officials were keen to highlight what they saw as a well-managed event. Safety delegate Alessio Codromaz told reporters: "Der Sicherheitsbeauftragte Alessio Codromaz sagte, die Situation sei im Vergleich zu früheren Pfingstwochenenden 'besser kontrollierbar' gewesen," translating to '[the situation] was more controllable compared to earlier Pentecost weekends'.

City Hall Stresses 'Controllable' Situation

Mayor Laura Giorgi praised the coordination that underpinned the security operation. "Bürgermeisterin Laura Giorgi sprach von einem 'über Jahre aufgebauten System', das in enger Zusammenarbeit zwischen Präfektur, Polizei, Rettungsdiensten und der Ortspolizei entwickelt worden sei," she said, pointing to years of joint planning with the prefecture, state police, emergency services and local police.

The town has already outlined improvements for future events. Extra personnel will be deployed to manage traffic, and a dedicated breakdown service is to be set up on the A23 Udine-Tarvisio motorway, a key route for visitors travelling from Austria.

The 'Tutto Gas' motto – a play on the Italian phrase 'tutto gas' meaning 'full throttle' – has become a fixture for Pentecost travellers from Upper Austria and beyond. Local media reported that while the weekend was largely peaceful, discussions among residents about the annual influx continue.

What Comes Next

"Viele von ihnen wollten unter dem Motto 'Tutto Gas' Partys feiern," news portal nachrichten.at noted, reflecting the party mood that drew the crowds.

With the municipality framing the event as a success and promising logistical tweaks for next year, the debate over how to balance tourism revenue with quality of life for locals is set to continue.