The Latest Breaking News from Venice

The fragile lagoon city of Venice launched a pilot program to charge day-trippers an entry fee that authorities hope will discourage crowds on peak days and make the city more livable for residents.

The overcrowded city is leading the way with a tax on day trippers, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

Locals say city is against plan and accuse authorities of turning Venice into a ‘theme park’ by charging day trippers for visits

Under the gaze of the world’s media, the fragile lagoon city of Venice launches a pilot program Thursday to charge day-trippers a 5-euro (around $5.35) entry fee that authorities hope will discourage visitors from arriving on peak days and make the city more livable for its dwindling residents.

Day trippers will have to pay €5 to visit Italian city under scheme designed to protect it from excess tourism

The Italian Unesco site is hoping to reduce over-tourism with the charge – the first of its kind in a major city

Venice will this week begin charging day trippers for entry, a world first aimed at easing pressure on the Italian city drowning under the weight of mass tourism.

8 Highlights from the Venice Biennale

From an alligator ride across Asia to an escape to outer space, the Venice Biennale’s ‘foreigners everywhere’ theme leaves our critic beguiled, tantalised – and frequently appalled