Jeff Bezos' Venice wedding creates travel chaos for tourists in the floating city
As Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez celebrate their lavish three-day wedding (June 24–28) this week in Venice, tourists are finding the city's charm a bit crowded and commodified.
Protesters in Venice claimed a significant win after Jeff Bezos and his wedding party relocated their main celebration from the city center to the Arsenale. While the original venue of Scuola Grande della Misericordia was never officially confirmed, the BBC reported that local officials say the last-minute change was prompted by growing pressure from activists opposed to the billionaire's high-profile festivities.
Situated in the eastern Castello district of the city, the reported new venue is said to be more isolated, surrounded by water and only land-accessible via bridges that can be raised.
Three luxury hotels are officially booked and some water taxis reserved for the wedding, the local press is swarming the event with paparazzi and mega‑yachts crowding canals.
Tourists report unexpected closures, rerouted traffic, and a paparazzi-heavy ambiance. Wedding festivities are anticipated to take place around some of the city's most central locations, with Venice City Hall mandating the closure of the area surrounding the medieval church Madonna dell'Orto on Wednesday for a Thursday night open-air gathering of guests.
Officials said the Police Headquarters of Venice is handling the city's security operations for the wedding. The police department did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.
Nevertheless, some residents and vendors welcome the influx – pointing out 80% of wedding provisions are sourced from Venetian artisans, according to The Associated Press – while others condemn it as a multimillion-dollar 'city rental' at the expense of ordinary life.
"Those who bring investment, create jobs, and bolster Venice's global standing will always be welcome here," Deputy Mayor of Tourism Department Simone Venturini said in a statement to USA TODAY. "We will continue to strive for a city that balances hospitality with the protection of its unique heritage, guided by both vision and equilibrium."
What this means for tourists
Contributing: Reuters
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