In the next few weeks, the City of Venice will be installing turnstiles - backed up by 500 cameras - at all entrance points to the inner city, and charging visitors an entry fee ranging from about $3.50 to $12 depending on season. Also there will be capacity limits - possibly resulting in some visitors being turned away - in the city's high season of June-July-August.

Once the new system is operating, visitors will have to book an entry permit and pay for it online in advance.

This initiative - enacted to enable the city to retain its Unesco world heritage status, which has been endangered by overtourism - is aimed primarily at cruise passengers and other day-trippers. You can avoid the entry fee - but pay a municipal room tax - by booking a stay at a local hotel.

Cruise ships displacing more than 25,000 tons or longer than 530 feet are now banned from entering waters around Venice.