Germans are sunlounger hoggers, or so the longstanding stereotype goes. When the Guardian asked a number of Italians in Rome, nobody admitted to the practice, although they could believe the data. In late July, authorities in a suburb of Naples seized 40 items, including umbrellas, loungers and deckchairs, during a dawn sweep of a popular free beach. However, a Briton living in France, who wanted to remain anonymous as they had German colleagues, was adamant Germans were by far the biggest culprits. “I saw it in Mallorca – it was 5.30am and a German dude was hogging five loungers with towels,” they said.