‘I visited Italian city for the first time – one error almost cost me £86’ | World | News

A travel journalist visiting Venice has revealed they faced a fine of almost £86 after unknowingly breaking a little-known local rule. Travel writer Joey Handler spent six days exploring Italy, traveling through this iconic European country and visiting some of its most famous cities along the way.

But in one of his most recent articles, Handler admitted that he had five regrets from his time in Italy; these were part of a wider two-week European adventure. Casting his mind back to October 2022, Joey remembered how he was stopped by the authorities in Venice for what he thought was a completely harmless action.

He explained that the incident occurred after he completed his walking tour and went out for lunch. After passing by restaurants that were all full, he decided to cut his losses and grab an ice cream before looking for a place to sit. reports the mirror.

But it was sitting that got him into hot water. The Business Insider reporter explained: “I eventually cut my losses and stood in line for gelato before sitting down on a shady step to enjoy the gelato.”

He added: “As I was about to take my first bite, nearby officials waved their hands up and down at me, a gesture that simply meant ‘stand up’. And there I was, committing a breach of etiquette that, according to the City of Venice, could result in a fine of 100 to 200 euros.”

Tourists and visitors can be informed about the regulation through the website of the municipal government as well as local authorities. Officials stated the following regarding this special rule: “Do not consume food or drink while sitting on the ground, do not sit or lie on shores and foundations, monuments, bridges, stairs, puteals and high water walkways.”

“Fine: 100 to 200 euros DASPO – Urban banning order (offenders will be banned immediately from the place where the crime was committed).”

This means those who break the rule could face fines ranging from £86.74 to £173.48. The local government explained why such regulations existed, including bans on swimming in canals, littering, wearing swimsuits, feeding pigeons and seagulls, cycling and camping in public spaces, and said they were designed to protect the environment.

Officials explained: “Current regulations enforced by the Municipal Police of the Venice City Council prohibit certain behavior to protect urban cleanliness and landscape, as well as for reasons of security and public hygiene. Violation of such regulations involves the imposition of administrative fines from 25 Euros to 500 Euros.”

These aren’t the only fees visitors to Venice may encounter; Tourists must also pay the entrance fee, which the city is introducing in 2024. The levy stands at around €5 (£4.34) and is initially imposed on busy days between April and July before being extended.

However, Venice’s new mayor, Simone Venturini, has discussed the possibility of increasing this figure to €50 (£43.37). “If today this amount varies between 5 and 10 euros, my proposal is to increase it to 30 to 50 euros,” he told Corriere della Sera.

While this measure was partly a response to the huge tourist concentration, critics warned it risked betraying the essence of the city. Former mayor Massimo Cacciari went further and demanded that the plan be canceled altogether: “There is no other city in Italy or Europe where you have to enter with a ticket as if it were a museum.

“This is barbaric, uncivilized and, in my opinion, unconstitutional. Simply obscene. I thought Venturini would be smarter than his predecessor and cancel the fee.”