Sirmione: An Aldi supermarket is coming to the former Nautica Moretti site. The historic facility, which closed in 2017 after more than fifty years in the boating industry, will be redeveloped to house a new store for the Aldi chain. The transformation work began in early 2025, with the opening scheduled before Easter, in anticipation of the upcoming tourist season. However, the news has raised concerns among residents and members of the minority list “Sìamo Sirmione,” with Andrea Volpi questioning the slow progress in updating the Land Use Plan, which has been stagnant since 2009.
Deputy Mayor Maurizio Ferrari responded to the criticisms by emphasizing that the Colombarola area was already included in previous zoning plans and that the former Nautica had been a commercial entity since 1963. He also assured that a variation to the Land Use Plan will be presented by the end of this year. The local community is divided over the initiative, with many citizens expressing their discontent on social media regarding the need for another supermarket in an area already well-served by similar businesses.
