Deserted streets, silent canals and eerily empty bridges. Photos of an empty Venice during lockdown sent social media wild, with many people vowing to flock to the city as soon as borders reopened.
And they seem to be true to their word. This summer, with the borders open to US citizens, plus Europeans keen to travel by car to their vacation destinations, the tourists are back in Venice. And so are the lines.
On weekends and holidays, the lines to and from popular destinations in the city can be hundreds strong. This week, up to 80,000 visitors a day have poured into the city of 50,000 inhabitants, according to local media. The long lines — and tensions sparked in them — have become such an issue that this summer, armed guards have been brought in to control the crowds.
