Venice bar owner sues council over diners’ wet feet

The owner of the renowned Harry’s Bar in Venice, which has been quenching the thirst of writers, Hollywood stars and artists for nearly 100 years, is going to court — to keep his patrons’ feet dry.

Arrigo Cipriani is suing the city council and harbour master’s office in the Italian tourist mecca, claiming they are not doing enough to prevent speedboats, water taxis and other vessels from sending waves across his well-heeled patrons. He said the wash is “wetting” his guests’ feet as they dine at his second restaurant, Harry’s Dolci, which is located alongside the Giudecca Canal that separates Giudecca island from central Venice.

Cipriani — whose father founded the original Harry’s Bar near St. Mark’s Square in 1931 — said he was forced to take legal action after heritage officials objected to his plan to install a wooden barrier to protect diners from the swell.

“How can we talk about protecting the decorum and the valuable features of Venice but allow anyone to rage through the canals causing distress and danger?” the 92-year-old restaurateur said. “The waves are invading the banks of the island. The paths are slippery and wetting our clients’ feet. With these waves you can’t even take a stroll.”

Daniele Vianello, a lawyer representing Cipriani, said the issue is not related to the lagoon city’s seasonal flooding phenomenon, known as “aqua alta,” or high water. Quoted by the Daily Telegraph, he said: “This is about the failure to stop the swell, the lack of control which poses a risk to public safety.”

Harry’s Bar has been a magnet for celebrities over the decades including George Clooney, Alfred Hitchcock and Charlie Chaplin, as well as literary luminaries such as Ernest Hemingway and Somerset Maugham.