SilkCityNews Desk:
Today is 25 April 2024, Italy’s 79th Independence Day. In 1945, Italy became independent from the tyranny of fascism. Festivals are held every year around this day in Italy. This year is no exception.
The people of Venice not only celebrate April 25th as ‘Independence Day’, they also celebrate the day as ‘San Marco’ Day.
On April 25 this year, another event began – Venice is now the only city in the world, where you have to pay to enter. That means you have to buy a ticket. Much like a museum.
A section of critics has long refused to recognize ‘Venice’ as a ‘city’. According to them – Venice is a museum. The world’s only open-air museum. It has everything a modern city should have, including schools, colleges, hospitals, courts, jails, but they refuse to call it a city.
As they say – like the museum opens in the morning and closes in the evening, so is Venice. Apart from bars, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls like other normal cities, there is no special arrangement for tourists. By midnight they are also almost closed. There is no special arrangement except for one casino. Even after 12 midnight tourists have to struggle to find food in Venice.
The local government of Venice made the words of the critics come true. Just as you need a ticket to enter a museum, you need a ticket to enter Venice from now on.
Anyone over the age of 14 will now have to buy a €5 ‘Venice Pass’ to enter Venice, effective today (25 April 2024). Penalty for not buying ‘Venice Pass’.
The logic of the Venice administration is that thousands of people come to Venice every day, wander around and leave. Not even a coffee. Brings food and water in backpacks. Their pressure sometimes increased to such an extent that Venice’s holding capacity and security became a threat.
Moreover, these tourists who go around for free make the city dirty. The local government has to spend more money to clean and tidy them. So they prefer to call this 5 euro Venice pass ‘Kantribhuti’ rather than a ticket.
This program will initially run for 29 days. That is, its term will end on July 14. After that the performance of the Venice Pass will be reviewed and further instructions will be given.
The Venice Pass, effective from April 25, will run regularly until April 30. Valid from 5th May only on Sat/Sun. ‘Venice Pass’ will not be required on other days of the week.
The local government has opened online booking and payment option for Venice Pass from 16th January 2024. Besides, ‘Venice Pass’ can be bought from ‘Tabakki’.
Venice Pass is mainly for daily travelers. For those who come and go by day, not staying in Venice. But those staying in Venice, i.e. booking hotels/hostels, will not need a ‘Venice Pass’. Because they have to pay city tax.
Taken from Palash Rahman’s Facebook.
