Luigi Brugnaro

Day-trippers to the fabled canal city of Venice who fail to pay 5 euros ($5.43) to enter the lagoon city's historic center during a time-limited pilot program launching later this month will face fines starting at 10 times the entrance fee, officials said on March 4.

Venice will trial a long-debated ticketing system from spring next year, officials said on Sept. 5, with day-trippers charged five euros to enter the Italian city's historic center in attempt to cut tourist numbers.

Venice plans to trial a reservation system for day-trippers, an official said Wednesday, in a bid to ease over-tourism as visitors flock back to the Italian city following the pandemic.

The pay-to-visit scheme will not cap tourist numbers but aims to entice some people to visit during the low season by charging them less.

About 70% of Venice is underwater once again. The water level has reached 150 cm above sea level, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said, DPA and BTA reported.

The city's lowest point, San Marco Square, was flooded and closed to tourists. The UNESCO-protected city lagoon was flooded for the third time in less than a week.

Water levels are expected to rise to 150 centimeters in Venice today - a new peak at a critical level of 130 centimeters, TASS reported, citing authorities in the Italian city.

"The water level is expected to reach 150 cm by 11.20 (12.20 Bulgarian time)," a tweet said.

Water levels in Venice rose to 183 centimeters and more than 80% of the city is flooded, TASS reported, citing ANSA. City officials are ready to declare a state of emergency.

San Marco Square is flooded - the water there is over 1 meter. The famous Basilica was also flooded.

The mayor of Italy's Venice said on Thursday that "anyone shouting 'Allahu Akbar' in the town's center would be "shot."

US website Business Insider reported this, adding that Luigi Brugnaro, who is "proud of being politically incorrect" - made these "threats" after a recent terrorist attack in Barcelona.

Three men, who came from Kosovo, have been arrested in Venice, Italy. The daily La Repubblica writes that they are believed to be members of a terrorist group.

The police operation to arrest the three took place near the Fenice Theater. All suspect were staying in the country legally, while "at least two" worked as waiters.

Italian police and the Carabinieri on Wednesday night arrested suspected Islamist militants from Kosovo - with valid residence permits in Italy - following 12 raids - 10 of which were in Venice's historic centre, one in Mestre, the mainland suburb of Venice, and one in Treviso.