The Local

Venice launched a new scheme on Thursday to charge day-trippers looking to enter the historic Italian city, a world first intended to ease the pressure of mass tourism. , ...ادامه مطلب

Tourist hotspots around Europe are on a crusade to deal with surging visitor numbers. Is it the end of mass tourism in Europe? , ...ادامه مطلب

Venice was the scene of protests on Thursday as many locals objected to the launch of a €5 fee for day-trippers to enter the city. , ...ادامه مطلب

As Venice trials its new entrance fee for tourists, visitors may wonder how the new charge differs from existing 'tourist taxes' in Italian cities - and what the revenue is used for. , ...ادامه مطلب

Italy is one of the world's most popular holiday destinations - a little too popular for some towns and cities, which have started introducing measures to combat overtourism in peak season. , ...ادامه مطلب

As Venice prepares to trial a charge for day trippers aimed at tackling overcrowding, residents of the floating city are questioning how helpful the measure will be. , ...ادامه مطلب

New rail routes are planned to take visitors from Italy's major cities to smaller destinations under a scheme aimed at making tourism in the country more sustainable. , ...ادامه مطلب

Venice announced on Thursday that it would introduce a fee on 29 days next year for day-trippers to visit the city's overcrowded centre as it seeks to tackle 'overtourism' on peak travel dates. , ...ادامه مطلب

Flags flew at half-mast over Venice on Wednesday after 21 people including a toddler were killed when a bus careered off an overpass and caught fire. , ...ادامه مطلب

Venice has confirmed it will trial a long-delayed ticketing system for visitors in spring 2024. But who will the fee apply to and how will it work? , ...ادامه مطلب

Central Rome will soon be off-limits to tourist coaches. Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP From January 2019, large tourist buses will no longer be allowed in the historic centre of Rome. Rome's city counc, ...ادامه مطلب

Venice's tourist hotspots have been accused of ripping off visitors. Photo: Miguel Medina/AFP An expensive lunch in the heart of Venice ended up costing the restaurant dearer than the guests: the eatery that charged four tourists €1,100 for their meal has been fined more than €10,000. The incident, which made headlines across Italy and abroad, eaed the Osteria da Luca a visit from police, health officers and building inspectors, as well as an investigation by the Guardia di Finanza, Italy’s financial crime police. The inspections have resulted in fines totalling round €14,000 so far, according to Il Gazzettino. Authorities found a number of structural and food safety irregularities, local media reports said. The Guardia di Finanza are continuing to investigate whether the restaurant may have failed to issue other customers a receipt, as it did in the case of the four tourists. The customers, Japanese students living in Bologna, were only able to prove the price of their lunch thanks to a credit card receipt, which showed they had paid the restaurant an eye-watering €1,143. They had ordered four steaks, a platter of fried seafood and a few drinks. They later m, ...ادامه مطلب

Snow in the Dolomite mountains in South Tyrol, Italy. Photo: [email protected]/DepositphotosScores of tourists remained trapped in ski resorts in South Tyrol on Monday after heavy snowfall blocked roads and triggered avalanche waings. Up to three metres of snow were reported in Val Senales, also called the Schnalstal valley, where a provincial road linking several villages was closed due to the risk of avalanches. Ski resorts including Maso Corto are cut off until authorities judge it safe to reopen; it is unclear when that will be. For the moment the avalanche waing in the north-weste peaks of South Tyrol is at four out of five and will likely be raised to the maximum level before Tuesday, one of the region's meteorologists told Ansa. The region has seen record amounts of snowfall this winter, he said. The heavy snow, combined with higher than average temperatures for January, has put much of northe Italy on high alert for avalanches. The resort of Breuil-Cervinia, in the Aosta Valley near the border with Switzerland, also closed roads for the third time this month. Three days of non-stop snow left more than a metre covering parts the regional road into the town, Ans, ...ادامه مطلب

Chinese tourists make selfies in a lavender field in Valensole, southe France, in June 2017. PHOTO: BORIS HORVAT / AFPChinese tourists are big spenders and with the numbers visiting Europe set to soar by nearly 70 percent over the next five years, the countries of the Old Continent are rolling out the red carpet to make the guests feel welcome. A total 12.4 million Chinese, mostly in guided tour groups, came to Europe in 2017, according to the European Travel Commission. And the Chinese Tourism Academy (CTA) is expecting the number to reach 20.8 million by 2022. "A few years ago, the Chinese came to Europe solely to do some shopping. Now, they're increasingly keen to get know the culture and the countryside," CTA president Dai Bin told AFP, speaking in Venice, at the launch of the year of tourism between the EU and China. Festivals, cooking courses... "they want to have personal experiences and visit areas where they don't see any other Chinese," said ETC's executive director, Eduardo Santander. "They like the cuisine, the music, the blue skies... most of them come from the coast, where pollution is extremely high," Santander said. And some were surprised that they can "breat, ...ادامه مطلب

Snapping a picture of the tree in Milan's central square. Photo: Marco Bertorello/AFP From north to south and east to west, Italy's towns and cities have had a festive makeover ahead of the Christmas holidays. We've gathered together the best snaps of the most magical displays from across the country to help you get into the Christmas spirit -- and maybe offer inspiration for a pre-holiday trip. Rome This mode Christmas tree can be found by the iconic Spanish Steps in the centre of the capital, just a short walk away from one of the main shopping districts. Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP The tree and lifesize nativity scene at St Peter's Square is one of Rome's holiday highlights. Photo: Andreas Solaro/AFP And this Christmas tree at Piazza Venezia has divided locals, with some dubbing it 'Spelacchiato' or 'hairball'. What do you think?  Madonna di Campiglio One of Italy's most popular skiing resorts tucked away in the Dolomites, Madonna di Campiglio feels like a true Christmas grotto at this time of year. READ ALSO: How to celebrate Christmas like the Italians Lecce Further south, authorities in L, ...ادامه مطلب