Josephine McKenna
01 October 2024 4:04pm
The owner of the iconic Harry’s Bar in Venice has accused city officials of failing to do enough to keep his clients’ feet dry.
Arrigo Cipriani – proprietor of a pub which has hosted Hollywood stars, writers and artists for nearly a century – is suing the city council and harbour master’s office.
He says they have failed to stop speeding motorboats, water taxis and other vessels from sending waves washing across the banks of Giudecca island, where well-heeled patrons dine at his second restaurant, Harry’s Dolci.
He decided to take legal action after local heritage officials stopped him from installing a wooden barrier to protect his patrons from the swell.
“How can we talk about protecting the decorum and the valuable features of Venice but allow anyone to rage through the canals causing distress and danger?’’ the restaurateur said.
Mr Cipriani, 92, is the son of Giuseppe, who founded the original Harry’s Bar near St Mark’s Square in 1931. Harry’s Dolci was opened in 1981 and is located alongside the Giudecca Canal, a broad stretch of water separating the island from central Venice.
Over the decades, the family’s famous watering hole has attracted Hollywood A-listers such as George Clooney, Woody Allen, Alfred Hitchcock and Charlie Chaplin, as well as writers like Ernest Hemingway and Somerset Maugham.
“The waves are invading the banks of the island. The paths are slippery and wetting our clients’ feet,’’ Mr Cipriani said. “With these waves, you can’t even take a stroll.”
‘Aqua alta’
Daniele Vianello, a lawyer who represents Mr Cipriani, said his client’s complaint had nothing to do with the lagoon city’s notorious seasonal flooding, known as “aqua alta” (high water).
“This is about the failure to stop the swell, the lack of control which poses a risk to public safety,” Mr Vianello told The Telegraph.
“The waves have become untenable throughout the city as boats do not obey the limits and speed everywhere, much to the annoyance of citizens and their safety and security.”
Venice’s canals are often crammed with ferries, motorboats, launches, barges and gondolas, especially during the summer tourist season.
Vessels are permitted to travel at speeds of up to 4mph in the main canals, and 3mph in narrower waterways, but speed limits are frequently ignored and a series of deadly incidents in recent years has raised concerns for the safety of local residents and tourists.
‘’The problem has become worse since the big cruise ships were banned from the Giudecca Canals,” said Mr Vianello. “When these small boats travel too fast, they create too much swell.”
A spokesman for Venice city council declined to comment on the lawsuit.
The post Owner of Harry’s Bar sues Venice harbour master over speeding boats appeared first on The Telegraph.
