Venice introduces a 'manners list'

Venice has introduced an initiative to encourage tourists to act with decorum when visiting the city.
The initiative, known as 'Venice Is Yours Too, Respect It' (Venezia è anche tua, rispettala!), asks tourists to respect the city and act as if it is their own. 

There are 10 requests for decent behaviour, written in 7 languages, distributed around the city. 

My favourite (which should be de rigeur EVERYWHERE) is dress code. I fail to see why anyone thinks it is OK to walk around town in their swimming costume, or bare-chested (and sadly the bare-chested men tend to have an over-sized belly to boot). Note the 500€ fine if you are caught doing so

The other 9 rules are:

• No picnicking around St. Mark's Basilica. Fine up to 500€
• No throwing of litter. Fines up to 500€
• No feeding of the pigeons. Fine up to 500€
• Keep to the right and do not linger in the narrow calli of Venice as this leads to congestion.
• Do not buy goods from unlicensed street vendors. Fine up to 7,000€
• Put rucksacks on the ground when on public transport - not everyone is on holiday. Store your bags where the boat staff tell you to - you can be fined up to 500€ if you do not.  The water-taxis are used by locals and business-people, do respect their right to get around the city relatively unhindered.
• Do not put up fly-posters or deface monuments through graffiti. Fines up to 500€
• Keep the noise down after 11pm so as not to disturb the locals. Fines up to 500€
• Flooding. Should you be in the city when it floods; keep to the raised walkways and to the right.

The rules are common sense really, but Venice must feel that they need re-iterating. 

Whether you are in Venice or anywhere else be respectful of the locals and be a responsible tourist.

Happy Travels!