We’re full! Tourists to be turned away from Venice

THE magic of Venice has attracted tourists for centuries.

But the Floating City appears to have been sunk by its own success after officials unveiled plans to deter day-trippers.

Those who try to drive in on the Ponte della Liberta – the bridge that links it with the mainland – this weekend will be turned away if they have not reserved a parking space.

Visitors may also be confined to main routes or forced to disembark from boats away from tourist hotspots to spare locals from the crush of incessant crowds.

The ‘urgent’ measures have been taken because of the huge number of people cramming on to the 118 small islands linked by canals and bridges. Up to 120,000 people a day arrive in the city – more than double the population of 53,000 – making it difficult for locals to get about and businesses to function.

Now mayor Luigi Brugnaro has signed a decree that states the need to ‘guarantee public safety, security and livability in the historic city of Venice’.

In the ‘experiment’ this weekend – a bank holiday in Italy – the city will ‘manage pedestrian and water traffic and the flows of people’. Mr Brugnaro said: ‘We have the task of safeguarding Venice.’