Hundreds of thousands visitors to the Venice Carnival will enjoy this year– possibly for the last time– the free access to the historic city of Italy before the much-discussed ticket measure aimed at reducing visitor numbers comes into effect.

The Carnival, which has its roots in the Middle Ages, is famous for the distinctive masks worn by the participants and for a series of cultural events in one of Italy’s most visited cities.

This year’s will host more than 50 shows in the period January 27-February 13.

In 2023, the Carnival gathered two million visitors who spent the night in the city’s accommodation and generated a turnover of three billion euros, according to data from the National Confederation of Small Businesses (CNA) of Italy.

Venice, with its picturesque canals and Renaissance buildings, has suffered from the impact of mass tourism for years, and for this reason it has introduced a pilot measure that will come into effect from April 25 with the aim of limiting the growing number of visitors. of one day.

“It’s the first time I’ve been here in January and I can’t believe the crowds, so if we start paying I think it’s fair enough,” says Lynne Keir from Britain.

Simone Venturini, the head of the city council’s tourism sector, said the 29 days chosen this time to implement the pilot ticket is a period that under normal circumstances would gather a very large number of tourists.

“This measure will have a double effect, firstly communicative, because it will give people the impression that it is not a good idea to plan a visit on those days. At the same time, it will give the image of a better organization for tourist flows,” he said.

Four thousand visitors have already booked for those 29 days through an official application, he added.

There will be no guardrails or ticket control system with bars, but authorities will carry out checks at the entry points of the islands that make up the city.

Tourists who do not pay the five-euro ticket will be asked to pay a fine of between 50 and 500 euros.

Although locals are exempt from the charge, some worry that the new regulations may complicate matters.

“It can be a problem for all those who live a little outside Venice and have to come here, maybe to see their parents. Those who live nearby have to make a reservation. They don’t pay, but it’s a bit difficult,” says Filippo , a resident who asked that his last name not be written.