There is now heavy and destructive traffic on all the arteries of the Grand Canal. After the collapse of the Ca’ Foscari building due to moto ondoso and erosion, thirty years ago the Rio Novo was closed to ACTV motorboats.
July 9, 2026
Alberto Vitucci
It’s not just Rio Novo. The old city is bursting with traffic. Tens of thousands of boats passing by every day, ever larger and noisier, have in recent years eroded its unique record as a car-free, slow city, living on the water.
The small canals have been transformed into highways of continuous traffic. The tourism industry, for which everything is sacrificed, demands it. This has led to an unsustainable transportation situation, with tens of thousands of people a day traveling by taxi and rented motorboats laden with suitcases.
The “work” of construction companies, who build hotels and unload materials, also demands it. The daily movement of supplies, hotel linens, packages, and luggage is done using increasingly bulky iron boats, which are totally unsuitable for the delicate canals. Thus, the size of the fleet that daily traverses the Grand Canal and the canals of the historic city has become unsustainable. Now, a judge’s order has once again put the spotlight on the critical problem of Rio Novo. This artery, designed during the Fascist period, was built in 1931 to quickly connect the Grand Canal from San Marco and Accademia to Piazzale Roma.
After the collapse of the Ca’ Foscari building due to moto ondoso and erosion, thirty years ago the Rio Novo was closed to ACTV motorboats. But not to taxis and cargo boats.
As a result, the canal has become—day and night—a noisy highway: a living hell for those who live there. To see this, just stand for a few minutes on the Ca’ Foscari or San Pantalon bridges. The measures taken over the years to limit noise, pollution, and traffic have been largely useless.
Other Canals
However, the highway effect isn’t limited to Rio Novo. All the main arteries lateral to the Grand Canal are traversed by “heavy” and destructive traffic.
This is the only example of its kind in all of Italy’s historic centers. These include the Rio di Noale, which leads to the airport; the Rio dei Greci and the Rio della Pietà; the Rio di Santa Giustina; the Rio di Santi Apostoli; and the canal that connects the Zattere with Piazzale Roma, passing through the Carmini.
Taxis and Rentals
The number of taxi and rental motorboats has grown in recent years; they comprise the majority of vessels that transport tourists. They are labeled as “non-scheduled” public transport.
Boats
Construction companies are increasingly using noisy boats with cranes. Iron hulls, exaggerated dimensions.
The faster they load, the less they cost the company. And if they can’t fit through the narrow canal? No problem. They can obtain an exemption—up to twenty a day—from the municipal offices and still pass. This problem was even recently reported by traffic police, who lack the tools to intervene.
Noise
Venice was one of the few Italian municipalities with advanced noise regulations. But in the latest municipal regulations, a few words have been introduced that now allow construction sites to operate without interruptions and without decibel limits.
For those who live near construction sites, it’s hell. And not everyone is willing to resort to expert reports and magistrates.
Traffic Plan
It’s a sort of dream book, never realized. A working group for a “Water Traffic Reorganization Plan” was established in 1997 by the Cacciari administration. Its recommendations are yet to be implemented.
Among the objectives are the reduction of passage and boat sizes, noise, width limits, and a cap on passage in some overly busy canals.
Thirty years later, nothing has happened. Except for the exponential increase in the number of boats circulating. In the busiest canals, passage is permitted for boats up to 3 meters wide.
Ordinances
Instead of a Traffic Plan, dozens of ordinances are in force, often contradictory, and sometimes unknown even to operators or police officers. Small pleasure boats (less than 5% of the total) are prohibited from passing under the Rialto Bridge and the Ferrovia until noon. Otherwise, almost everything is permitted.
Moto Ondoso
It’s not just a question of respecting speed limits, which are necessary. The Barcavelox (speed limit) introduced by the Brugnaro administration a year ago only works in certain areas and not across the entire lagoon.
But it could be a good deterrent, especially with severe penalties such as administrative detention of the boat in addition to fines for those who persist in ignoring the rules.
It is, however, a question of the impact moto ondoso is having on the delicate walls of the buildings on the water and on the entire city. Chasms and potholes have been discovered in the Grand Canal, every now and then some walls are cordoned off, others collapse.
It’s time for drastic decisions. Ones that allow tourism and construction to thrive, while protecting the common good. How? For example, by extending the alternate license plate system, which was piloted in Rio Novo; by encouraging entry into the city via external lines—and at minimal speeds—and the use of public transportation and gondolas.
The Data
Until the early 2000s, the Municipality could rely on data from COSES, an institute that periodically counted the passages and types of boats in circulation. Then COSES was disbanded, and that work was no longer done.
Now, continuous monitoring by the Municipality, the Department of Transport, the Lagoon Authority, and the Metropolitan City is needed. And some decisions. To turn the page and prevent Venice from soon being suffocated by traffic and its tourists. It will be difficult, but necessary.
Source: La Nuova di Venezia e Mestre
Don’t miss a story! Subscribe to receive new from Venice by email:
Campaign For A Living Venice 