TOO BIG A CROWD FOR CARNIVAL, COUNCILLOR VETTESE: TICKET FOR ST MARK’S SQUARE

The news was carried in all the local papers: after the polemic about the crowds in Venice and in St Mark’s Square in particular last Sunday (more than 135,000 in the city) with problems of entrance and exit, especially in the Square and the St Mark’s area, the city council intends taking action. The proposal comes from the councillor for tourism Angela Vettese who, in the light of last weekend’s chaos, proposes entry to St Mark’s Square by payment on these special occasions. This is the statement released to the Corriere del Veneto: ‘If the Carnival was up to me, I would close St Mark’s Square. I am against limiting numbers in Venice, but in favour of payment for an entrance ticket to the Square on the three occasions per year (Carnival, Redentore, New Year’s Eve - ed.) when it is turned into a theatre’. Raffaele Alajmo, owner of the caffè Quadri also talks about an entry ticket to Venice and tourism that is now difficult to manage. A few days before he had spoken about the danger of illegal traders working in the Square. According to Alajmo, the Square should only host events of a certain level and quality and, regarding Carnival, the offer should be diversified in the city.