Is Venice still a city, or has it become a theme park with canals?
For millions of tourists snapping selfies on gondolas, it’s an Instagram dream.
But for locals, it’s a nightmare of overcrowding, skyrocketing rents, and vanishing neighbors.
Fewer than 50,000 Venetians remain in a city swarmed by 30 million visitors a year—90% of whom don’t even stay the night.
“It’s death by vacation rental,” says Emanuele Dal Carlo, founder of Fairbnb.
His platform only lists homes owned by real locals—no faceless landlords with 20 properties here.
“We’re not against tourism,” he adds, “but you can’t Airbnb an entire city.”
Others are getting creative. Elena Almansi teaches canal rowing the old-school Venetian way.
Matteo Silverio turns Murano glass waste into art. And designer Michela Bortolozzi?
She sells souvenir soaps shaped like gothic architecture to spark a question: consume it, or cherish it?
What’s The Real Fix?
Even high-tech solutions are on the table—from microalgae farms to floating flood barriers.
“Bring people back,” says urban planner Fabio Carrera.
“Venice was always about innovation, not just tourism.”
As boatbuilder Cesare Perris puts it: “If we can save Venice from mass tourism, maybe we can save the whole world.”
