British tourists heading to Venice this summer are being urged to rethink how they explore the city's iconic bridges and risk conflicts with frustrated locals.
With around 20 million visitors a year and just 55,000 residents, Venice is not only the most visited, but also the most overcrowded destination in Europe, according to responsible travel. Venice's frustration with tourism pressures has now made global headlines as Jeff Bezos, a former journalist and television host Lauren Sanchez, became an angry flashpoint.
The protests have been furious for weeks towards the event, with critics warning that if a wedding takes place in the city centre there is a risk of turning an already overcrowded UNESCO World Heritage Site into a “rich playground,” but locals say prices have been stolen and pressured by increased cost of living and an increased climate threat.
This summer, Italian travel experts have also issued clear warnings about one habit, particularly. This is something most tourists do without thinking about it. Tourism is important to the urban economy, but it also places a great burden on its sensitive infrastructure, especially the narrow footbridge that crosses the lagoon city.
“One small tourist habit causes more tension than any other person: reading maps and taking photos in the middle of the bridge,” says Mariannes Park, a luxury cruise company that has been operating in Venice's lagoon for over a decade.
Many of the bridges in Venice are only 2 meters wide, and are only enough for two people to pass. This means that when a visitor stops in the middle, it creates a bottleneck in a short amount of time.
Adding a pram, selfie stick, or tour group will collapse the pedestrian traffic flow.
Sparkes added:
“But the bridges are a busy zone. You're not camping out, you're going to cross them. If you want a photo, come back early in the morning.
European waterways share simple but essential advice for tourists seeking to avoid friction with locals in the narrow footprints of Venice.
First and foremost, it continues to move. Bridges are meant to cross, not forcing or pose. If you want to take a photo, take a step sideways rather than stopping in the center.
Always be careful of the people around you. It creates space for others to rush and clearly pass by, especially for delivery workers, seniors, or locals. If you need to check the instructions or look at the map, don't do it on the bridge itself. Go down and stand on one side.
Early mornings are ideal for those who want really good photos. Sunrise offers the best light and the least crowd, allowing for uninterrupted shots without disrupting anyone's commute.
For shots that don't let anyone's commutes get in the way of the city, visit Ponte della Paglia, the spacious Ponte Tre Arch of Cannaregio, or “Little Venice” just outside the city, heading for Chiogia, just outside the city for iconic views of the sighing bridge.
