I just spent a week in Venice and small crowds and armed police presence made it feel like an entirely different city

Zac NtimSep 16, 2021, 17:33 IST

The author traveled to Venice for the annual film festival.Insider

During a recent trip to Venice, Italy, I was surprised by how quiet its iconic tourist sites were.
Many historically popular locations including St Mark's Square were calm and pleasant to visit.
The improved tourist experience seemed to be thanks to city officials who were present throughout Venice.

I spent a week in the Italian city of Venice, mainly reporting on the 78th Venice film festival for Insider.

The Palazzo del Cinema, one of the Venice Film Festival hubs and screening buildings. Insider

During my time in the city, however, I managed to see some of the famous sites, and I was shocked by how calm everything was. This picture was taken at the height of a Saturday afternoon at the famously busy Piazza San Marco

St Mark's Basilica in Piazza San Marco. Insider

During my time in the city, however, I managed to see some of the famous sites, and I was shocked by how calm everything was. This picture was taken at the height of a Saturday afternoon at the famously busy Piazza San Marco

There were also no busy crowds outside of Doge's Palace - one of Venice's popular tourist sites.

Doge's Palace, one of Venice's oldest and most famous buildings. Insider

And most of the City's famous shopping districts were also pretty tame but remained convivial.

A shopping quarter of San Marco. Insider

Even some of the city's popular canal spots were a lot less busy.

A canal in Castello, Venice. Insider

As were some of the locations away from the historically popular tourist sites like here in San Polo.

Campo San Polo. Insider

This made navigating Venice's historically tight walkways a lot less daunting - particularly as COVID-19 remains a risk.

A near-deserted alleyway in Venice. Insider

I initially wondered whether tourists had largely avoided the city this summer with cases of the Delta variant rising. But attendance at the film festival was high. Every morning I was plagued by long security lines at the festival entrance.

One of the entrances to the Venice film festival. Insider

I initially wondered whether tourists had largely avoided the city this summer with cases of the Delta variant rising. But attendance at the film festival was high. Every morning I was plagued by long security lines at the festival entrance.

After a while, however, I began to frequently notice the presence of armed police officers around popular tourist locations.

Armed police officers in St Mark's Square. Insider

Armed police were also accompanied by local officials in "#EnjoyRespectVenice" t-shirts, and it became clear that together they were successfully regulating the flow of tourists moving large groups along, and providing directions.

A city official on Rialto Bridge. Insider

Armed police were also accompanied by local officials in "#EnjoyRespectVenice" t-shirts, and it became clear that together they were successfully regulating the flow of tourists moving large groups along, and providing directions.

Although the city itself was less crowded, the queues to enter popular locations like Saint Mark's Basilica remained busy.

The long queue to enter St Mark's Basilica. Insider.

And so did the queues for the perfect selfie at the City's most Instagram-friendly spots.

The tourist scrum for a selfie on Rialto Bridge. Insider

For the first time ever, I can't wait to go back to Italy.

The view from Rialto Bridge. Insider

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I just spent a week in Venice and small crowds and armed police presence made it feel like an entirely different city

I spent a week in the Italian city of Venice, mainly reporting on the 78th Venice film festival for Insider.

During my time in the city, however, I managed to see some of the famous sites, and I was shocked by how calm everything was. This picture was taken at the height of a Saturday afternoon at the famously busy Piazza San Marco

There were also no busy crowds outside of Doge's Palace - one of Venice's popular tourist sites.

And most of the City's famous shopping districts were also pretty tame but remained convivial.

Even some of the city's popular canal spots were a lot less busy.

As were some of the locations away from the historically popular tourist sites like here in San Polo.

This made navigating Venice's historically tight walkways a lot less daunting - particularly as COVID-19 remains a risk.

I initially wondered whether tourists had largely avoided the city this summer with cases of the Delta variant rising. But attendance at the film festival was high. Every morning I was plagued by long security lines at the festival entrance.

After a while, however, I began to frequently notice the presence of armed police officers around popular tourist locations.

Armed police were also accompanied by local officials in "#EnjoyRespectVenice" t-shirts, and it became clear that together they were successfully regulating the flow of tourists moving large groups along, and providing directions.

Although the city itself was less crowded, the queues to enter popular locations like Saint Mark's Basilica remained busy.

And so did the queues for the perfect selfie at the City's most Instagram-friendly spots.

For the first time ever, I can't wait to go back to Italy.