“Too much, too many people, too much” – Grandmaster Flash, “The Message” [Ed. Note: This is a second personal reflection about the state of Venice – as I’ve seen it during my visit here. Unlike most of what appears on the site it is purely my opinion.] I remember the first time it dawned on … More A walk in Venice, pt. 2: it’s a small world after all

2 October 2019, Venezia I’ve just walked around some of Venice for the first time in over a year and a half. If you’ve been here before (and if you’re reading this there is a good chance you have), but not in some years, I can tell you the transformation of the city is very … More A walk in Venice, finding change, loss and hope. A personal reflection.

Foreign and local interests, with the Brugnaro administration, have shifted the center of gravity of Venetian politics on the tourist economy in a way that has never happened before. The trend intersects with the growing difficulty of the region’s traditional manufacturing economy, which lacks a genuine industrial policy and which, according to Zaia, can be … More Ever more tourism in Venice and in the Veneto. A perverse interaction

Yet another case of a public building turned into a hotel. The Fish Market into a museum. Is Venetian public spirit capable of turning Venice into a place that tries different methods of production and exchange that aren’t tied and subservient to the tourism industry? By Barbara Colli and Giuseppe Saccà Enough hotels in Venice! … More The Intended Use of a City

The appeal to the Council of Europe will be at the center of a press conference that will take place Tuesday March 12 in Strasbourg with Parliament member Cécile Kyenge, author of an inquiry focused on the crucial issues for the life of the city of the Doges. By Giovanni Andrea Martini 7 March 2019 … More “Venice does not have to die”

The text of the regulation that was approved by a majority of the City Council, which has to be conceived of only as a fee for “disembarking”, of entry to Venice and the islands strictly for tourism, is clearly a blatant legal monstrosity, and an unacceptable mockery that is cynically aimed at us, Venetians and … More Tassa di sbarco: Commentary by Domenico Cardone

Giuseppe Tattara and Gianni Fabbri, authors of the recently published “Manage tourism and organize the city” offer their ideas for bringing residents back to Venice in this essay. Repopulating Venice By Giuseppe Tattara and Gianni Fabbri A concrete proposal for transforming part of the tourist rentals into medium term residential rentals and to curb the … More Repopulating Venice. By Giuseppe Tattara and Gianni Fabbri

Instead of controlling the flow of tourists in the historic center (and the proliferation of B&Bs) they want to prevent even the elderly from stopping on steps. By Gian Antonio Stella Children on scooters, beware!! The new rules for decorum in Venice are a little severe in places. You can bring a Transatlantic cruise ship … More Tourism gone wild in Venice? The City bans scooters.

[Ed. Note: I’d like to thank writer and journalist Petra Reski for this in depth report, and for her permission to share it here in English translation.] Veniceland and no end in sight 7 August 2018 CRITICAL MASS Cities such as Venice, Barcelona and Dubrovnik can no longer withstand the assault of tourists – normal … More Special Report: Veniceland and no end in sight