Venice will limit the size of tour groups to 25 people starting today in yet another attempt to limit the impact of crowds of visitors on the city.
No noise
Local authorities will also ban the use of loudspeakers by tour guides, as part of measures aimed at “protecting the peace and quiet of residents” and ensuring pedestrians can move around more freely.
The fines
Anyone who fails to comply with these new measures, which were initially scheduled to come into force in June but have been postponed until early August, will face fines ranging from 25 to 500 euros.
The restrictions cover the city center as well as the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.
In April, Venice became the first city in the world to introduce a payment system for tourists, in an experiment aimed at discouraging daytime visitors from arriving there during peak periods.
The pilot program, closely followed by other popular European destinations, lasted just 29 days and ended in July, paving the way for a consultation period to decide how the program will move forward.
Exceptions
There are, however, exceptions to the rules for tour groups. Children under 2 years old are not included in the count and the restriction is lifted for students visiting the city or on an educational trip.
AMP Source