British Couple Banned from Venice After Canal Jump on Final Holiday Day

A British Couple Banned from Venice After Swimming in the Grand Canal

A British couple has been banned from Venice after they were caught swimming in the Grand Canal on the final day of their holiday. The 35-year-old man and his 25-year-old Romanian partner, who reside in the UK, were reportedly taking a dip in the canal when they were spotted by gondoliers and subsequently reported to the police.

The pair were each fined £390 and ordered to leave the city for 48 hours, as reported by Italian media. Swimming in Venice’s 150 canals is strictly prohibited due to the risks posed by gondolas and motorboats that frequently travel through the water.

Security councillor Elisabetta Pesce expressed gratitude for the cooperation of the gondoliers, stating, "I thank the gondoliers for their cooperation and timely reporting."

This incident has sparked outrage among supporters of the activist group "Venice is not Disneyland." Locals are calling for stricter penalties for misbehavior and permanent bans for repeat offenders. One woman wrote on the group's Facebook page, “I can't take any more of these idiots. Wherever they go, they create a mess.” Others criticized the fines given to the British couple, arguing that they are too low and may encourage others to follow suit.

Some residents questioned whether the fines would even be paid at all. One comment read, “They should be jailed until they pay the fine, and then put on a plane dressed as they are in their bathing suits.”

This is not the first time Venice has faced issues with tourists behaving irresponsibly. In 2023, the mayor of Venice shared a video of a man jumping from a three-story building into a canal, labeling him an "idiot." Luigi Brugnaro wanted to find the man and the person who recorded the video, suggesting they should be "given a certificate of stupidity and a lot of kicks."

Five years earlier, tourists jumped from the Rialto Bridge late at night, cheered on by their friends. In 2016, a New Zealand man was hospitalized with severe injuries after colliding with a water taxi while diving off the bridge. In 2020, two German tourists were filmed swimming in the Grand Canal under the iconic Rialto Bridge during the post-Covid lockdown period. They were caught barefoot in their swimwear by army officers monitoring the city and were both fined.

Venice authorities have stated that they are increasing efforts to combat irresponsible behavior from tourists. Since the start of the year, officials have issued over a thousand expulsion orders for various violations.

Elisabetta Pesce, the security councillor, emphasized the city’s commitment to addressing disrespectful and uncivil behavior. “The council administration is committed to firmly combating disrespectful and uncivil behavior, because protecting Venice means defending the dignity of a city that is unique in the world and ensuring decorum for both residents and visitors.”

As the issue of tourist misconduct continues to challenge Venice, questions remain about the effectiveness of current measures. Are the fines enough to deter future incidents, or will they only encourage more reckless behavior? With the city struggling to balance tourism with preservation, the debate over how to protect its heritage grows increasingly urgent.