Venice to exile visitors behaving improperly

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

The lagoon city holds back the right to reprimand visitors with inappropriate behavior the same way that police tackle football hooligans: with an order that forbid them from returning to the scene of their offence.

Also, there will fines of up to €500 for anyone who “dirties public places in any way”.
The new regulations, agreed last week by the city council, apply to all Unesco-protected areas of Venice, which has a historic centre, the lagoon and all its islands. Also, they are in effect at Venice airport, train station and passenger port, at piers and on public transport.

In any of the canals of the city, bathing, diving or swimming is strictly forbidden. At the same time, going shirtless or wearing only a swim suit – including in private boats or vehicles. Consuming alcohol on the street is not permitted between 8pm and 8am, as hen and stag dos, graduation parties or other outdoor group celebrations are only authorized during the day or at weekends.

Other liable to be punished behaviors include picnicking in public places, fastening padlocks on bridges, lying down on benches, or sitting on steps of bridges, in front of shop windows and anywhere else where stretching out causes damage or gets in others’ way.

Authorities will remain mainly watchful for infringement around churches, archaeological sites and other historic landmarks.

Also, the regulations call on restaurant owners and shopkeepers to offer bins for customers’ rubbish and put back plastic containers with biodegradable alternatives, on penalty of being forced to close for up to 15 days or, for repeat offenders, losing their license.

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