Following complaints and even legal action by locals about noise, congestion and crime in the Porta Venezia area, Milan officials are showing they are listening. The northern Italian city is set to become the latest to impose new rules governing behaviour in its streets, in an attempt to balance the needs of residents with those of tourists and revellers.
Porta Venezia
Porta Venezia is a popular nightlife spot around Piazza Oberdan, via Melzo, and via Lazzaretto, known for its lively LGBTQ+ clientele. A temporary block has been put on sales of takeaway food and drinks there between the hours of midnight and 6am on weekdays and 1:30am to 6am on Friday and Saturday nights. Bars with outdoor seating areas, shops, stalls and vending machines will not be able to sell those items at those times, until at least 19 November. Street vendors will have to abide by an even tighter sales window, being allowed between 6am and 6pm only.
#Milano
— Marco Granelli (@MarcoGranelliMI) October 21, 2023
Ieri prima notte con orari in #movida porta Venezia via Lecco e via Melzo: 1.30 festivi e 00.00 feriali per dehors e asporto. Polizia Locale in attività fino alle 5.00. Grazie a chi collabora e rispetta le regole.https://t.co/qiDxKeN7pV pic.twitter.com/BgOAgen9RP
The move comes after Lazzaretto Residents Committee asked for measures to give them greater peace and quiet at night. Milan’s Mayor Giuseppe Sala agreed, telling Ansa news agency that he was no longer convinced by “the idea of the 24-hour city in which there are no opening hours, always open.”
“Cities should also rest”
In words that echo sentiments in other cities such as Spain’s Seville, where a ban was recently put in place on rowdy bachelor parties and obscene behaviour, Sala went on, “I believe that cities should also rest like us humans and have timetables that are a little more suitable for everyone.”
It is essential to find a balance in the nightlife and give clear rules for everyone.
Marco Granelli, Milan Councillor for Security
Milan’s Councillor for Security, Marco Granelli, was keen to point out the city does not “want to penalise fun, nor work and entrepreneurial activities”, speaking to Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica. “However, we must allow residents to rest and all citizens to enjoy a quality public space in safety,” he said. “It is essential to find a balance in the nightlife and give clear rules for everyone.”
Gentrification?
However that balance is hard to find. As gentrification has taken over certain neighbourhoods around the world, there has been a loss of beloved nightlife zones and even famous nightclubs. Some say new residents move in knowing their accommodation is near a nightclub, and then complain repeatedly about noise, causing longstanding businesses to be closed down. Those buildings are then sold to residential developers, creating sterile communities without a mixed offer of amenities and entertainment.
