iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Lewis Hamilton crossed the finish line second in his Mercedes to equal his best finish of the season
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Facing ruin, Venice’s famed Caffe Florian appeals for help
Employees wait for customers at the 18th Century Cafe Florian on St. Mark's Square in Venice, which reopens after being closed for three months during the Covid lockdown.
Venice - Coronavirus pandemic turns the world-famous Italian city into a ghost town and left the popular cafe on St Mark’s Square in dire straits
Caffe Florian, the oldest watering hole in Venice and a mecca for writers, artists and politicians, had hoped to spend December planning its 300th birthday party — but instead faces ruin.
The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world-famous Italian city into a ghost town and, following on from last year’s floods, left the popular cafe on St Mark’s Square in dire straits.
“We will stay open for as long as we can, but we can do not more than that,” managing director Marco Paolini told reporters on Friday, in a public appeal for government help.
“Venice is on its knees,” he said, and “the activity of the Florian has been devastated”.
Founded on December 29, 1720 by Floriano Francesconi, the cafe’s clients have included everyone from Wagner and Proust to Nietzsche, Charlie Chaplin and Andy Warhol.
These days it employs around 80 people, including the multi-lingual and always impeccably dressed waiters in their white tails.
“We wanted to organise a big cultural event to celebrate our 300th anniversary, but it was cancelled,” he said.
Venice suffered a major setback last year when the tides reached historic levels, flooding the city. It was only just getting back on its feet when Covid-19 hit.
Since then, the absence of tourists — the city’s main source of income — has plunged it into one of its darkest years in recent history.
“We are asking for help,” said the manager, who represents a group of partners who own the cafe.
More news from
1,800 people have been killed and 1.2 million displaced since the conflict started in Sudan, with more than 425,000 fleeing abroad
The three-way accident led to 17 coaches being derailed and severely damaged, leading to the loss of at least 275 lives
Expert elaborates on the finer points of the agreement signed between card issuer and the customer
A 25-year-old woman dies in the incident after an altercation during the event to mark four years since the fatal crash
Airbus and Boeing are also competing in talks to sell 25 wide-body jets to the same airline
The country has aimed to be Net Zero by 2050
Operating times are altered according to the nature of each season and the movement of the emirate's residents throughout the year