Residents and authorities alike in the northern-Italian lagoon city have long despised the mass of visitors who inundate its streets all year round.
On any given day, locals make their way through the city shouting, “Attenzione!” in order to break through the wall of tourists that stands between them and their daily routine.
An influx of visitors at this year’s Easter weekend and two drunken tourists dancing naked near the Rialto Bridge have prompted local authorities to once again discuss charging day-trippers to enter the city.
Around 125,000 people flocked to Venice on Easter Sunday and 95,000 on Easter Monday, overcrowding its narrow alleyways and causing long queues at popular sites.
Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro has been repeatedly accused of failing to provide a solution to the city’s tourism troubles.
But he has now indicated his intentions to make the proposal of a daily entrance fee a reality.
Mr Brugnaro told local media he is waiting on a new law proposed by Italy’s centre-right coalition that would make it possible to restrict tourist numbers.
“The solution is obvious: those who live, work or have a place to sleep in the city can enter, the others must stay away,” the mayor told Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
“Our priority is to guarantee liveability for residents but also for tourists. Venice is a special city, but many haven’t yet understood this, not even in Rome.
“The mayor must have power to close the city off on crowded days...several ideas have been proposed to the government, we now hope they decide to help Venice.”
