I saw this article on CNN: May 1 crowds discussing plans to restrict visitors access during the upcoming holiday weekend. Interesting as a possible trend for future restrictions. For those that don't want to chase the link, the city will redirect tourist traffic away from certain stops and no auto access (on mainland, I assume) w/o parking reservations. No restrictions on locals and those with certain access privileges (Venizia Unica cards) during the crowded holiday weekend.
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
They keep talking about this, but I don't see anything really happening here. Park in Mestre and take the train in. A "Venezia Unica Card"? Fancy word for a vaporetto pass. Popular tourist landmark is Piazzale Roma. Huh?
Posted by
Folsom
2739 posts
The Piazzale Roma is a parking garage. Not exactly a popular spot. Many years ago we were in Venice for a cooking class with the late Marcella Hazan. Little did we know there was a Pink Floyd concert scheduled (Marcella called them Pinka Floyd). One day, on my daily early jog, I see a large barge with black curtains flying the Jolly Rodger, the stage. That night 200,000 young folks from all over Europe descended on the city with no accommodations, and worse, no port-a pots. The next day the city looked like hell. The city fathers were eventually sacked, after they investigated this for years. So, no other concerts, but I tell this tale to illustrate how inept the leadership is in handling crowds. This is not new and they’ve had a long time to figure this out. They should all go spend a few months with the Disney people.
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
That is the solution, turn it into Disneyland. Wait a minute! It already is, if you listen to residents.
Posted by
Folsom
2739 posts
No, no. What I meant is learn how to manage large crowds in a small space. It’s doable but it would take a system which may incorporate some restrictions such as limiting cruise ships.
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2213 posts
They should all go spend a few months with the Disney people.
When is the last time you've been to Disney? Did you find paying hundreds of dollars to stand in hour long lines a rewarding experience?
That is the solution, turn it into Disneyland. Wait a minute! It already is, if you listen to residents.
It’s doable but it would take a system which may incorporate some restrictions such as limiting cruise ships.
We took a wonderful evening stroll in Rome with a Walks of Italy tour a few Decembers ago. Our guide was a long time Roman resident. She was bemoaning how destructive the cruise ships were to Rome. She said summers had become unbearable with multiple cruise ships disgorging thousands of passengers who hop on buses to be brought to Rome for a day trip. She pointed out that the cruisers are in a hurry and tend to be rude and pushy. I've read that CT and Venice are even worse. I get mad every time I watch Masterpiece Theater and see the advertisement for Viking Cruises with their hulking ship interjecting itself on the Venice skyline like Godzilla in Tokyo.
You might find this article interesting. Several Italian locations are mentioned.
I readily admit I've become a travel snob. It's not just Europe, many national parks have become a nightmare. We used to go to Seaside on the Florida Gulf every year when it was a quiet, out of the way beach spot. Now that whole strip is overdeveloped and overcrowded.
Posted by
Wisconsin
19 posts
We will be flying into Marco Polo this Saturday, staying for three nights near the opera house. Not sure what the impact will really be, but we don't plan on going near many of the major sights anyway. I'll post something on here after the holiday to let others know specifics.
Posted by
Jersey Shore
339 posts
Alan, I had never heard of that Pink Floyd show, so I looked it up. July 15 1989. As a traveler, I understand how an event like that in Venice is just not acceptable.. But as a Pink Floyd fan, that must have been insane!! "How I wish, How I wish you were here"!!
Posted by
Folsom
2739 posts
It was nuts. Having seen Pink Floyd several times we thought, wow a bonus to a great trip. But, even though we stayed just a few bocks from St. Mark’s the viewing area, we could not get close. Wall to wall bodies. So we heard the concert from our hotel lobby and watched it on a grainy 6 inch black and white TV!
Posted by
Bendigo, Australia
1297 posts
From a comment above
“ A "Venezia Unica Card"? Fancy word for a vaporetto pass.” This is completely incorrect.
The Venezia Unica Card is not the same as a vaporetto pass. The Unica card costs fifty euro to buy for non residents, is valid for five years, and is an intelligent card that can be loaded with vaporetto tickets. If you have a Unica card, ten rides cost 14 euro, or 1.40 euro per ride.
My card has eight or nine rides loaded on it. Will be handy when we visit Venice next week for ten nights.