The place everyone goes and other Venice, Italy Tourist Trap Tips

We all know you can't go to Venice without seeing St Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge. You have too, I believe it's written in the law somewhere. So go, but don't spend all your time there.

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At Least Do This: It will get tiring fighting the crowds, unless of course you see it very early in the morning or late at night.

This is a quote from the Ricksteves.com website "North African merchants in Venice are feeling the heat. Name-brand producers (like Gucci and Louis Vuitton) are tired of these guys selling knock-offs on the streets. After unsuccessfully trying to arrest these immigrant salesmen, local authorities are now considering fining any tourist who buys their fake-label wear. You'll see the vendors and their makeshift shops spread out on blankets everywhere in Venice. When the police come, they pack up and vanish. After the coast is clear, they set up again and are back in business."

I found these merchants to be really annoying, not only in Venice but other citys in Italy as well. They line up all along already congested areas (over bridges, along the Riva D. Schiavoni where the cruise ships come in, etc). They generally are in the high tourist areas, so why is it so hard for the police to "police " the areas?

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At Least Do This: Ignore them, make no eye contact.