Two “pretentious idiots” have sparked fury in Venice by hurtling down the city’s famous Grand Canal in £20,000 electric hydrofoils.
The two Australians whizzed down the main thoroughfare in the center of the UNESCO World Heritage Site yesterday morning, shocking tourists and locals alike.
Footage showed one of the surfers taking photos with his cellphone before falling into the water of the canal.
The mayor of the Italian city, Luigi Brugnaro, called for the couple to be punished and even offered a free dinner to anyone who identified them.
He said: “Here are two pretentious idiots making fun of the city.
Two “pretentious idiots” have sparked fury in Venice by hurtling down the city’s famous Grand Canal in £20,000 electric hydrofoils
The duo whizzed past the city’s famous monuments that lined the canal while shocked locals looked on
The two men zoomed down the main thoroughfare in the center of the UNESCO World Heritage Site yesterday morning, shocking tourists and locals alike
“I’m asking everyone to help us identify them to punish them even if our guns are really blunt…we urgently need more powers for mayors in relation to public safety!”
“For those who discover them, I offer dinner!”
In a later tweet, the mayor said: “Speaking of the two ‘heroes’ of this morning, we’ve identified them!
“The two tablets have already been confiscated and soon, without giving any details, those responsible will be in our arms: they will be prosecuted as they deserve!
‘Thank you all for your cooperation.’
The couple were fined €3,000 each for endangering the safety of navigation along the canal and were also expelled from the city, local reports said.
The mayor of the Italian city, Luigi Brugnaro, called for the couple to be punished and even offered a free dinner to anyone who identified them
The couple have been fined for endangering the safety of navigation along the canal and have also been expelled from the city, local reports said
Surfing, paddling and canoeing are prohibited on the famous Grand Canal, which is often lined with gondolas, tourist boats and water taxis
Footage showed one of the surfers taking photos with his cellphone before falling into the water of the canal
They face additional charges for allegedly damaging the city’s image.
Surfing, paddling and canoeing are prohibited on the famous Grand Canal, which is often lined with gondolas, tourist boats and water taxis.
Foil surfboards often have electrically powered propellers built into the board.
It’s the latest in a series of incidents in Italy where tourists have angered locals by using vehicles at historic sites.
Earlier this month, an Australian tourist was arrested after riding his moped through the ancient ruins of Pompeii.
An Australian tourist, 33, has been charged in Italy, accused of riding his moped around the ancient city of Pompeii (pictured).
The alleged 33-year-old “barbarian” was arrested by security forces after traveling about a mile through the world-famous archaeological park.
The tourist claimed he didn’t know he wasn’t allowed to drive through the 2,000-year-old site, known to have been destroyed by a volcanic eruption in AD 79.
The UNESCO World Heritage site does not allow tourist vehicles, and fortunately in this case the park confirmed that no parts of the ancient city were entered or damaged.
The man has since been charged with “unauthorized access”.
The park said in a statement: “The route taken is a dirt road outside the old city walls used by construction vehicles for excavation work.
“It is safe, restored and not open to the public. Thus, at no time was there any danger to visitors or to the archaeological heritage.”
Earlier this year, a woman and a friend on their rented scooters caused damage to Rome’s Spanish Steps after the woman threw the vehicle down the steps
Earlier this year, two American tourists caused €25,000 in damage by throwing e-scooters down Rome’s Spanish Steps.
In June, a 28-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man were each fined €400 (£338) after they were caught on camera “deliberately” riding a scooter to celebrate the Trinità de Monti hurled down 18th century stairs.
Rome’s monuments authority said it caused fractures at the 16th and 29th steps of the right-hand staircase.
Because the woman intentionally pushed her scooter down the stairs, a more formal complaint was filed against her for damaging the sacred stairwell – an offense punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine of at least €2,050.
A Saudi Arabian man was charged earlier this year for trying to drive his rented Maserati down the stairs, with a piece of the travertine stone breaking off.