Australian tourists blasted as ‘arrogant idiots’ for surfing canal in Venice, Italy

Two Australians have been chased out of town and blasted as ‘arrogant idiots’ for surfing the iconic canals of Venice.

Two Australian tourists have been blasted as “arrogant idiots” for surfing a canal in the Italian city of Venice.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro posted a video of the stunt on Twitter, asking for the pair to be identified.

“Here are two arrogant idiots who make a mockery of the city … I ask everyone to help us identify them so we can punish them,” Mr Brugnaro wrote.

“I’ll buy dinner for whoever identifies them!”

Ecco due imbecilli prepotenti che si fanno beffa della Città… chiedo a tutti di aiutarci a individuarli per punirli anche se le nostre armi sono davvero spuntate… servono urgentemente più poteri ai Sindaci in tema di sicurezza pubblica!
A chi li individua offro una cena! pic.twitter.com/DV2ONO3hUs

— Luigi Brugnaro (@LuigiBrugnaro) August 17, 2022

The video showed the pair speeding down the canal on motorised surfboards.

Local newspaper Il Gazzettino reported the two men were issued with an order to leave the city and slapped with a fine of about $2100 each.

Local police identified the pair as a Chinese person and an Englishman, both residents of Australia, according to the newspaper.

Venice, a historic city built on a cluster of islands separated by canals, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its “outstanding universal value”.

The two tourists were identified in local media as Australian.

Local media reported the tourists were fined and told to leave the city.

Local officials work hard to deter tourists from doing anything that can damage the sensitive environment.

Fines apply for actions such as sitting on the ground, eating on monuments, swimming in the canals, riding bikes, littering and walking around in a swimsuit.

It comes just weeks after another Australian tourist made headlines for illegally riding a moped inside Pompeii, another Italian UNESCO World Heritage Site.