Photos: Venice a shell of itself as tourists flee virus
The Carnival period in Venice usually marks the start of peak season in one of the world’s most visited cities. But in the time of coronavirus, it is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away.
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
A gondolier looks at his smartphone as he waits for clients in Venice, Italy, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. The Carnival period in Venice usually marks the start of peak season in one of the world's most visited cities, with hordes of tourists piling onto vaporettos to cruise the Grand Canal, strolling through cobble-stoned streets and lingering in picturesque cafes. Venice in the time of coronavirus, though, is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. The cholera epidemic that raged quietly through Venice in Thomas Mann's fictional "Death in Venice" has been replaced by a real life fear of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
A seagull stands in a pole next to parked gondolas at the lagoon on a rainy day in Venice, Sunday, March 1, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. The cholera epidemic that raged quietly through Venice in Thomas Mann's fictional "Death in Venice" has been replaced by a real life fear of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
Tourists wearing protective masks pose for a photograph at the Rialto bridge as the sun sets in Venice, Italy, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. The city has remained quiet ever since the outbreak, with only intrepid tourists wearing a different type of mask _ surgical _ remaining and taking advantage of a city that otherwise would be jammed. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
Tourists eat a meal on an almost empty restaurant terrace in Venice, Italy, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. Venice, a UNESCO world heritage site, had already been brought to its knees last year, when near-record high tides flooded a lagoon city used to frequent spells of "aqua alta." (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
A waiter waits for customer as locals eat a meal in a restaurant at the St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
Locals and tourists walk along a nearly empty St. Mark's square in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. Venice, a UNESCO world heritage site, had already been brought to its knees last year, when near-record high tides flooded a lagoon city used to frequent spells of "aqua alta." (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
Tourists hold their protective masks as they pose for a photograph at the Rialto bridge in Venice, Italy, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. The city has remained quiet ever since the outbreak, with only intrepid tourists wearing a different type of mask _ surgical _ remaining and taking advantage of a city that otherwise would be jammed. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
A shop assistant waits for customers at the Murano island in Venice, Italy, Monday, March 2, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
A gondolier on the Grand Canal as the sun sets in Venice, Italy, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. Venice, a UNESCO world heritage site, had already been brought to its knees last year, when near-record high tides flooded a lagoon city used to frequent spells of "aqua alta."(AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
A couple shelter against the rain with an umbrella as they walk in St. Mark's Square during a rainy day in Venice, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
Gondolas are parked on a rainy day in Venice, Sunday, March 1, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. The cholera epidemic that raged quietly through Venice in Thomas Mann's fictional "Death in Venice" has been replaced by a real life fear of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
Commuters and tourists take a bus boat in Venice, Italy, Monday, March 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
Commuters and locals take a bus boat in Venice, Italy, Monday, March 2, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. The cholera epidemic that raged quietly through Venice in Thomas Mann's fictional "Death in Venice" has been replaced by a real life fear of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
A man shelters against the rain and windy with an umbrella in Venice, Monday, March 2, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. Venice, a UNESCO world heritage site, had already been brought to its knees last year, when near-record high tides flooded a lagoon city used to frequent spells of "aqua alta." (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
Gondolas are parked on a rainy day in Venice, Sunday, March 1, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. The cholera epidemic that raged quietly through Venice in Thomas Mann's fictional "Death in Venice" has been replaced by a real life fear of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
People walk past a reflection of the Mona Lisa in the Leonardo da Vinci museum, temporary closed due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, in Venice, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
Gondoliers chat as they wait for customers near St. Mark's square in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. The cholera epidemic that raged quietly through Venice in Thomas Mann's fictional "Death in Venice" has been replaced by a real life fear of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
A man, reflected in a carnival masks shop display window, crosses a bridge at the Murano island in Venice, Italy, Monday, March 2, 2020. The Carnival period in Venice usually marks the start of peak season in one of the world's most visited cities, with hordes of tourists piling onto vaporettos to cruise the Grand Canal, strolling through cobble-stoned streets and lingering in picturesque cafes. Venice in the time of coronavirus, though, is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
Boats sail along the lagoon next to parked gondolas in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. A UNESCO world heritage site, it had already been brought to its knees last year, when near-record high tides flooded a lagoon city used to frequent spells of "aqua alta." (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Virus Outbreak Venice Photo Gallery
A woman wearing a bridal dress poses for photographs near St. Mark's square in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Venice in the time of coronavirus is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. Venice, a UNESCO world heritage site, had already been brought to its knees last year, when near-record high tides flooded a lagoon city used to frequent spells of "aqua alta." (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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