Venice Officials Increase Fines for Visitors Who Act ‘Uncivilized’

Irritated by the sight of tourists strolling through its piazzas in bikinis and swimming in its canals, city officials have more than doubled the size of spot fines designed to bring visitors into line.

“From now on, anyone who behaves in a uncivilized way will be punished,” Councillor Augusto Salvadori told a weekend news conference.

Starting today, visitors caught in swimming costume, sunbathing in public, taking dips in canals or eating packed lunches in St. Mark’s Square risk a $37 spot fine.

Anyone dropping rubbish, writing graffiti on buildings, using sleeping bags or tents in the city center and playing music or singing in St. Mark’s Square faces similar fines.

Last year, the city introduced spot fines of $15 but it is the first time eating packed lunches in St. Mark’s Square has been listed as a misdemeanor.

Salvadori said the new rules would be spelled out in posters written in four languages and displayed all over the city.