A couple in the UK received a fine and prohibition in Venice, after being surprised by swimming in the Grand Canal. The British man, 35 years old, and his Romanian girlfriend, 25 years old, were forced to return to the UK on September 11, their first holiday.
Venice/Photo: Pixabay
According to CNN, the gondolars are the ones who reported to the Local Police that the two have taken a bath in the channel.
The two received a fine of 450 euros and were expelled from Venice for 48 hours. So far, 1,136 such sanctions have been applied to tourists with inappropriate behavior in the city this year, according to the Venice Police.
The couple, whose identity was not made public, swam near the Bridge Accademia, near Piazza San Marco, and the Gondolars from the Rio San Vidal kiosk called the authorities, who removed them from the water.
“Thank you gondolier for prompt cooperation and reporting. Venice must be defended by those who do not respect it: the protection of the city means ensuring a civilized behavior for the inhabitants and visitors who experience it with decency“, Declared the Security adviser of Venice, Elisabetta Pesce.
Swimming in the channels in Venice is forbidden for several reasons, including heavy traffic traffic and the level of cleaning, or rather its lack, of water, according to the Ministry of Tourism of the city.
Of the 1,136 expulsion orders issued so far, about 10 were for swimming.
The inappropriate behavior of visitors is one of the most serious effects of supraturism, said the Veno Local Police commander, Gianni Franzoi, and such incidents are increasing.
