Rome, Sep 26 (IANS/EFE): Authorities in Venice, Italy, have ordered the closure next Monday of accesses to the Cavalli Palace where civilian marriages take place, as the city braces for the wedding of Hollywood star George Clooney, 53, and his Lebanese-born fiancee, human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin.

The City Hall has not disclosed when the secretive wedding shall be held, but the decision to close walkways leading to the 16th century palace between noon and 2 p.m. Monday seems to indicate the ceremony will take place then.

Clooney is already in Venice, where he is staying at the seven-star Cipriani hotel, while Alamuddin, 36, has been seen in Milan and is expected shortly at the Aman hotel, another seven-star property, media reported.

Meanwhile, guests have started pouring into the city for three days of celebrations, including a dinner Friday for between 70 and 100 people at the Cipriani.

The 160 guests who are expected to attend the ceremony include Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Bono, Cindy Crawford, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, although nobody has seen them yet despite the scores of paparazzi roaming the streets.