Venice authorities ordered a British couple to immediately leave the city after they were caught swimming in a canal on their vacation’s final day. The couple, permanent UK residents, were spotted by gondoliers who reported the incident to police, resulting in hefty fines for their dangerous behavior.
Read: Venice: Gondola capsizes and tourists fall into water – The viral video
British tourists fined for diving into Venice canal (Video)
Specifically, authorities imposed a €390 fine on each tourist and ordered them to leave Venice within 48 hours. Swimming in the city’s approximately 150 canals is strictly prohibited due to dangers from gondolas and speedboats. City security councilor Elisabetta Pesce thanked the gondoliers for their timely intervention, while the case sparked reactions from supporters of the “Venice is not Disneyland” initiative, who demand stricter fines and permanent bans for violators.
Tourist behavior has repeatedly created problems in the historic city. In 2023, Venice’s mayor called a man “stupid” for jumping from a three-story building into a canal, while previous incidents included diving from the Rialto Bridge resulting in injuries and hospitalizations. Venice authorities are intensifying efforts to curb irresponsible tourist behavior.
