- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
Comments (11)
Print
Save/Share
Three gondolas will escort a red coffin through Venice's famed canals this Saturday, November 14, in a symbolic funeral organized to highlight the disastrously shrinking population—which dropped below 60,000 at the end of October. There won't be a single full-time resident left in Venice by 2030, according to demographic predictions cited in Newsweek.
The primary cause of death isn't the much-publicized acqua alta that floods St. Mark's Square and city streets annually, but rather the flood of tourists. Of the 55,000 average daily visitors, more than half are now daytrippers who drop in as part of a guided tour or choose to stay in nearby towns like Padua or Verona, where hotels and restaurants are cheaper.
[+] Enlarge photo
Wealthy outsiders who've purchased second or third homes in Venice have driven up property prices, while the recession and a dwindling tax base have led to service cuts, in what has become a vicious cycle prompting many to abandon the city. Twenty-five percent of residents are over 64, compared to an Italian average of 19 percent [via italymag.co.uk].
Andrea Morelli, who has an electronic population ticker in the window of his pharmacy off the Rialto Bridge, helped organize the funeral to draw attention to the mixed blessings of tourism. Newsweek's Barbie Nadeau reports:
"Maybe this funeral doesn't have to be the end," he says. "It might be the beginning; it could even spur a rebirth." In fact, the weekend after Venice's population dipped below 60,000, 11 babies were born at a local hospital. "Now we just have to create a Venice [those new natives] will want to stay in," says Morelli. "We have to give them a reason not to leave."
User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.
This is truly a shame. Venice is such a unique place. I fell in love with the city when I had the opportunity to visit a couple of years ago. Always hope to return someday and maybe stay.
Posted By Johnnie on November 12, 2009, 12:24 PM
Who can imagine a world without Venezia?
Or worse yet, a Venice without Venetians.
Posted By Ted Bryson on November 12, 2009, 12:46 PM
I always said that I loved Venice, but it didn't seem like a real city as compared to Rome and Florence. It has become a surreal place with no real city to be found. High prices, tourist hordes and wealthy absentee owners might be all be part of the cause.
Posted By Phil on November 12, 2009, 3:06 PM
Ask anyone, my home is littered with mementos from Venice. It is unique, the rip-off artists are not as bad as they once were, and when someplace is a sinking world heritage sight/ an island, then they can charge more. If they are worried about a shrinking population, try opening up a low cost long term accommodation for students who wish to stay for a few months and STUDY all about Venice. This would be a positive. They could also do in Venice with better 'street' signs directing you out of the maze of alleyways and into the main attractions. Long LIVE VENICE!!!!!!
Posted By susan on November 12, 2009, 3:32 PM
Perhaps a non-tourist based industry or source of income is called for.
Posted By M on November 12, 2009, 5:22 PM
Let me see: What few Tourists are left are not staying in the hotels, eating at the restaurants or spending money in the city. So lets raise our prices to make up for the losses!!
Really now.
Posted By Bob on November 12, 2009, 7:16 PM
> a non-tourist based industry or source of income is called for
They have plans for IT-sector developments, although I wonder if calle can replace the Silicon Valley?
The Veneto region is also trying to win the rights to the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. I agree that sounds weird.
> wealthy absentee owners
There could be a law to require owners to keep their mansions occupied by renting it out, if necessary. If not, the city council would take it over and rent it at reduced price tag to make sure it gets occupied.
> try opening up a low cost long term accommodation for students who wish to stay for a few months and STUDY all about Venice.
Venice is already full of students, but they can't afford to stay once the university years are over.
> Of the 55,000 average daily visitors, more than half are now daytrippers who drop in as part of a guided tour or choose to stay in nearby towns like Padua or Verona, where hotels and restaurants are cheaper.
I don't think many lodge that far away. Moglian is just 25 minute train from Santa Lucia and offers exactly 1/3rd prices of historical Venice, based on my personal experience and also according to a recent press interview mention by Venice mayor Mr. Cacciani during the Biennale.
Shuttle in the morning, out in the late evening, that is the only option for many tourists nowadays, they can't afford lodging in Venice-proper.
If Venice does not like that, I recommend the city council mandate that hotels advertise rooms in off-season autumn and winter time for half or less of the main season summer rates. Marco Polo airport should be severalfold less epensive for off-season travellers. That would help even out the tourist flow.
Another recommendation would be to ban the mega cruise ships from the lagoon and force them to berth on the outer side of the Lido strip. Build a spectacularly big pedestrian-only bridge between Lido and the tip of Castello, which would force many megaship visitors to spend a night in the city. (Water taxi fee is en par with hotel room prices.)
Another worthy venture would be to build an underground railway link between airport, Mestre and loop around Venice proper. It should have an emphasis on freight and emergency services use. It should make transport of goods much cheaper and help lower prices in the historic city.
Even more gradual goods delivery could be achieved by an oversized pneumatic tube post system, which could be laid into the silt of the many canals criss-crossing the city. Canisterised, bar-coded goods arriving via the underground railway could be injected into the system at the station nearest to the destination.
Posted By Tamas Feher from Hungary on November 13, 2009, 5:52 AM
Greed,
I am visiting Venice next week and am really looking forward to it! I did in fact get 1/3 off a beautiful hotel room right on the Grand Canal and paid 1/2 off my airline ticket for a direct flight from JFK to Venice. It did take 3 days to find a great flight and great hotel for a good price. The issue is twofold. Travelers need to put in the time to get a good price and make Venice more affordable. The city of Venice in turn needs to be less greedy and stop overcharging and not dig up the lagoon to fit large cruise ships causing the tide to be more severe. It was the city of Venice after all that decided to allow cruise ships so close to earn more tourism revenue. Travelers shouldn't gripe about prices if they don't put in the time and research necessary. Venice shouldn't gripe about its dropping population and destruction brought on by its own greed.
Posted By john majkowski on November 13, 2009, 5:08 PM
Over the past five years I live between Venice and England. My tiny apartment which I bought, was owned but not lived in by a Venetian family.My neighbours are all Venetian and warm and welcoming.Also babies seem all around, although the Italian birth rate is low. Many of Venice's apartments are either tiny like mine, or so huge that they are impossible to heat.I don't think the young are very different from elsewhere, its just a pretty difficult city to bring up children.Property is expensive as in any major city in Europe.
There is a substantial amount of social housing in Venice.
When I bought my property I paid higher tax to buy it.As a foreigner I pay higher water, electricity and rubbish collection bills. Also icici tax which Venetians do not pay.
I bring visitors to Venice who buy food from the local shops(which abound) in San Antonin Castello.
They visit restaurants, the Biennale, art galleries and museums.I imagine anyone will spend an average of E600 a week if not more.
Venice is a place in our hearts.Yes let it grow with companies, create jobs,give grants to young people to encourage them to stay, but please don't blame it all on the visitors.
Posted By Valerie du Monceau on November 14, 2009, 10:51 AM
I was in Venice during the funeral and never heard a word about it. I am only reading it now but it is confusing because we booked two doubles on the Grand Canale and enjoyed bountiful breakfasts plus our roundtrip from Frankfurt for only EUR600! Of course we had to book several months in advance, but it was well worth it. We got fleeced at one restaurant there and the food was mediocre, but we found a place filled with locals where we ate well for much less. Greed and neglect is killing the city. It was my third visit. Please save Venice from absentee landlords and the exorbitant cost of living. It is truly a unique place and needs to be nurtured back to health. It is truly dying an embarrassing death and deserves better! If you marry New Orleans and Las Vegas you get the Venice of tomorrow or your worst nightmare if a good suitor doesn't intervene!
Posted By Drew Andersen on November 17, 2009, 1:53 PM
I agree with Bob that raising prices seems to NOT be the answer. I once had a successful business that was based on selling goods at a fair price to a large volume of customers. I did well and sold my business but the man who bought it did not do well because he raised his prices and went after a more specific upscale clientel. He lost the volume business and when the economy suffered he eventually lost those few willing to pay his high prices too.
The only way people will once again make Venice an overnight stay is if it becomes reasonable enough to stay there verse some of the other wonderful choices existing in the outlying areas. Venice does not need to be the cheapest place around as it is unique but it can work to be more available to the average traveler. With that said, I have been to Venice twice and it is one of my favorite places in Europe if not the world. There are reasonable rooms to be had if people plan ahead and do their homework. And although we found many of the restaurants overpriced and uninspiring the very best pastries I have had in Europe were at a bakery not too far from the train station and surprisingly the best pizza we have ever had anywhere was in a little hole in the wall place just off the Rialto brige and these items were all at very fair prices!
Posted By Kelly M. on November 21, 2009, 9:35 PM