Venice, in its effort to “preserve decorum and traditions” of this ancient canal city has banned new kebab shops and other fast-food restaurants from opening.
According to the new law, there will be limit to the shops selling pizza by the slice, however, shops selling artisanal ice cream will be spared from the measure.
Paola Mar, the city’s tourism chief, said, “We want to put the brakes on types of activities which are not compatible with the preservation and development of Venice’s cultural heritage.”
Mar continued saying that there were plans to develop picnic areas to deter visitors from eating takeaway food in tourist hotspots. But the problem is that with a tourist city like Venice, there is a risk of it losing its identity. There are local products that must be promoted which would be better for the spirit of the city and, at an environmental level, would be more sustainable.
Venice is the latest Italian city to limit the sale of fast food in a country that prides itself on its national cuisine. In 2016, Verona also banned kebab and other fast food shops to preserve the city’s “decorum”. It has been long in discussion by the authorities as how to protect the city and its environment which receives millions of visitors each year.
