Venice - Tourists heading to Venice will be banned from taking wheelie-suitcases because the city authorities say they create too much noise.
Large tour groups dragging the convenient bags around amounts to noise pollution because they keep residents awake at night, officials claim.
And they also are worried about wear and tear to Venice’s famed bridges and other attractions.
Anyone caught breaking the rules will be fined 500 euros (about R6 000).
Venice City Council said in a statement: “The rules respond to the needs of many residents who have complained to the authorities in recent years about serious discomfort in their homes linked to the movement of goods at times protected by legislation such as at night and in the early morning.”
“There are also numerous worrying signs of deterioration and wear to paving stones and bridges previously unharmed for hundreds of years.”
Venetians will be exempt from the regulations which are to come into force in May next year.
However, city official Maurizio Dorigo admitted the rules were currently a little impractical because while they ban suitcases with hard rubber wheels, they permit bags with inflatable ones, which he says do not yet exist.
He said: “Hopefully a company will start producing suitcases with inflatable tyres before May.” - Daily Mail