Venice Not Included on UNESCO List of Endangered Heritage Sites

UNESCO has once again spared Venice from its list of world heritage sites in danger, declining to add the famous Italian city after initially drawing the ire of the group due to the effects of climate change and over-tourism. 

Members of UNESCO ignored recommendations at a meeting in Saudi Arabia last week to add the lagoon city to the infamous list and instead praised Venice’s conservation efforts, The Associated Press reported. They especially touted the city’s long-awaited plans to charge an entrance fee for day trippers next year.

“Great victory at UNESCO!!... Venice is not at risk,” Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “The world has understood all the work we have done to defend our city, some of the opposition in Venice still hasn't!”

Brugnaro called the earlier report recommending the city be considered endangered “misleading.” 

Venice has been on UNESCO’s radar for years and was spared the same fate in 2021. Following that, Italy declared the waterways around the city a "national monument" and banned large cruise ships from passing through its canals. The city also made plans to introduce its day trip tax, but continually postponed its implementation before finally settling on 2024.

When it goes into effect, all travelers over 14 years old who visit Venice for the day will be required to pay €5 ($5.33). The fee will be rolled out on a trial basis mainly during spring bank holidays and summer weekends when the city is at its most crowded. 

Venice already charges overnight visitors who book a hotel stay a different tax.

While Venice avoided being added to the list of heritage sites in danger, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee did add sites in the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and L’viv. The two sites — Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral and the historic centre of L’viv — join the Ukrainian city of Odessa, which was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger earlier this year.