It has been discussed for some time. Venice wants to start charging entrance fees for day visitors next year.
The popular lagoon city has been trying different strategies to cope with the crowds for years. There have also been plans to charge admission fees for some time. In October, the city council finally set the course for this. Anyone wishing to visit Venice next year must pay five euros on certain days.
“This is a globally unique experiment. The city is complex and fragile. We must take measures because there are crowds in the historic center at certain times of the year that we must reduce. “I want to emphasise once more that this is a test that will cost us more than we earn,” Mayor Luigi Brugnaro says. He says that the entrance fee will primarily go towards the maintenance and cleaning of the city.
This excludes the Republic Day weekend (June 1–2). Residents and people born in the municipality of Venice, property owners (even if they do not live in Venice), students, and employees also do not have to pay an entrance fee. Other categories, such as children under the age of 14, disabled people, and accompanying persons, are required to book but do not have to pay.
“There will be two access gates set up for residents and non-residents, which our officials will man,” the city manager said. “We will require random checks of the QR code that day-trippers must have.” Failure to do so could result in fines of between 50 and 300 euros.
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