A French tourist has sparked outrage in Venice after she was caught allegedly scattering the ashes of a loved one in the Italian city's St Mark's Basin. The footage shows an unnamed woman shaking the contents of a bag – believed to be human ashes – into the water as she passes the island of San Giorgio Maggiore on a boat.
The incident, captured on camera by fellow passengers on a vaporetto (Venice's public waterbus), spread rapidly across social media and has sparked an investigation by local authorities. While police are yet to confirm the contents of the bag, a Venetian passenger can be heard at the end of the recording asking angrily: "Are you finished?" The incident has sparked fury among Venice residents, with many criticising both the location choice and the apparent disregard for the city's rules governing the scattering of ashes.
Legal Restrictions on Ashes Scattering
Under Veneto laws, ashes can only be scattered in approved locations, including designated 'Gardens of Remembrance' in the cemeteries of San Michele, Mestre and Marghera, or on private land outside urban areas with the owner's permission. In natural settings, scattering is only allowed in limited areas, including parts of the Adriatic Sea at least 2,300 feet (700m) from the coast and a designated section of the northern lagoon behind San Michele cemetery. The ceremony must be authorised in advance in accordance with the deceased's documented wishes and later reported to the relevant authorities.
St Mark's Basin is not among the locations where ashes may be legally scattered. If the contents of the bag are confirmed to be human ashes, the unknown woman in the video could face a hefty fine.
Venice's Zero-Tolerance Policy
St Mark's Basin, also known as San Marco, is an area of the Venetian Lagoon facing the Riva degli Schiavoni and the Doge's Palace in the San Marco sestiere. Venice has become known for its multiple laws aimed at cracking down on unruly tourist behaviour. The Italian city enforces a zero-tolerance policy and has strict laws to preserve its heritage, public hygiene and local infrastructure. This includes a €100-200 (£87-173) fine for consuming food or drink while sitting on the ground, bridge steps or monument bases, a €250 (£216) fine for walking around bare-chested or only wearing a swimsuit and a €350 (£303) fine for swimming in any of Venice's canals, as well as a temporary expulsion from the historic centre.
