‘We will block the canals': Venice divided as young protesters target Bezos wedding
Protesters have vowed to block the Bezos wedding from parts of Venice. (Andrea Pattaro/AFP/Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
On a sweltering Friday afternoon in June, a group of angry and self-described 'precarious' or underemployed Venetian young people gathered in a square near the foot of Venice's Rialto bridge. It was a call to action against the impending nuptials of billionaire Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez, who will be tying the knot — and tying up the city — later in the month.
After struggling at first to hang a massive 'No Space for Bezos' banner, complete with a drawing of his inarguably phallic Blue Origin rocket in the center, a handful of speakers roused the crowd of around 300 Venetians, many of whom were sipping spritzes in takeaway tumblers and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes.
Though the details of the Bezos wedding are highly guarded beyond the rumoured US$10-million budget, several venues, including the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where the same group managed to hang a No Bezos sign on the bell tower on Thursday, seem to be a given.
Also said to be a dead-cert location in central Venice is the 14th century Misericordia, a former school armory that is now an exclusive events venue. It's widely rumoured that the main ceremony will take place her on June 28.
But not if the protesters get their way.
'Bezos will never get to the Misericordia,' organizer Federica Toninello told the crowd to raucous applause. 'We will block the canals, line the streets with our bodies, block the canals with inflatables, dinghies, boats.'
Another speaker, Na Haby Stella Faye, urged those gathered to make sure the wedding would be remembered for their opposition, not Sanchez's reported 27 outfit changes.
'Let's make sure that Venice is not remembered as a postcard venue where Bezos had his wedding but as the city that did not bend to oligarchs,' she said. 'We can't miss a chance to disrupt a $10-million wedding.'
'No grandi matrimoni'
Others lamented the arrival of Bezos' $500 million superyacht Koru, and the other luxury leisure boats expected to be docked in the city's ports. There were also complaints about the temporary work big events like this provide, rather than full-time jobs.
Jeff Bezos wedding in Venice, Italy
Protester outrage against the Bezos wedding has been matched by support for the nuptials. (Andrea Pattaro/AFP/Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
Bezos' wedding is clearly symbolic of Venice's current problems. Efforts to combat overtourism have resulted in a 10-euro daytripper entrance fee on weekends and peak periods while more residents are pushed out every year due to a dwindling lack of services like schools, hospitals and affordable housing.
'You're telling me none of these people shop on Amazon?' said New Orleans native Jake Springer, who, along with his wife, was spending a weekend in Venice on a wine tour through Italy. 'At least they are protesting peacefully. Americans could learn a thing or two from this.'
Protests in Venice may seem like a national pastime, but it's worth noting that they have been incredibly successful in the past.
The years-long 'No Grandi Navi' or 'no big ships' campaign of the pre-Covid era was successful in banning giant cruise ships from anywhere near the city center. The restrictions led to widespread changes in cruise itineraries, with many of the major lines switching from Venice as a port of call or embarking point to nearby Ravenna and Trieste. Some, including Norwegian Cruise Line, removed Venice entirely from their itineraries.
Protests against Airbnb-style short-term rentals also led to changes in the number of properties an individual can own to rent out.
But protesting a millionaire's wedding in a city synonymous with love? To some, 'no grandi matrimoni' or no big weddings, seems cold.
Bezos' is hardly the only high-dollar wedding to be held in the city — not least George and Amal Clooney's nuptials in 2014, which were cheered on by locals.
So far this year, city officials say three multi-million-dollar weddings have been held without any opposition. Luca Zaia, the head of the surrounding Veneto region, calls the protests a disgrace.
'I am ashamed'
'I want Jeff Bezos to be welcomed with open arms in Venice. Protesting against those who bring visibility and wealth to our territory is, in my opinion, a disgrace,' he said Friday.
Jeff Bezos wedding in Venice, Italy
Protesters display a banner reading "No Space for Bezos!" on the Rialto Bridge. ( Manuel Silvestri/Reuters via CNN Newsource)
Venice's mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, said he hoped the protest won't dissuade Bezos and Sanchez from keeping their plans. 'We will have to apologize to Bezos,' Brugnaro told reporters in Venice on Friday. 'I am ashamed of those who behave like this. I hope that Bezos comes anyway. Not all Venetians think like these protesters.'
Across town at the Biennale of Architecture, a regular event on the Venice calendar, the sentiment was much more in line with city officials than the protesters.
'It seems ridiculous that a city that lives off tourism like Venice wouldn't want an event like this, which will employ hundreds of people from waiters to water taxi drivers,' Görge Meyer, who was visiting from Berlin, said. 'All the guests and journalists will be staying at hotels, eating at restaurants and spending money. And they want to stop the cash influx?'
Gillian Longworth McGuire, an American travel writer and tour planner who moved from Rome to Venice 10 years ago, points out that famous people have been coming to Venice to get married for centuries and wealthy people have been parking their yachts in Venice for decades.
'Venice just doesn't have a clear idea of what it is supposed to be sometimes,' she said. 'Is it a magical place carved out of a lagoon, built by merchants and fishermen, or a bachelorette party and mega wedding venue?
'The ethos of this city was always that it was the crossroads of culture and the world. Venice doesn't need an event like this to prove itself. People will always come no matter who gets married here and who is against it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
13 hours ago
- CTV News
‘We will block the canals': Venice divided as young protesters target Bezos wedding
Protesters have vowed to block the Bezos wedding from parts of Venice. (Andrea Pattaro/AFP/Getty Images via CNN Newsource) On a sweltering Friday afternoon in June, a group of angry and self-described 'precarious' or underemployed Venetian young people gathered in a square near the foot of Venice's Rialto bridge. It was a call to action against the impending nuptials of billionaire Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez, who will be tying the knot — and tying up the city — later in the month. After struggling at first to hang a massive 'No Space for Bezos' banner, complete with a drawing of his inarguably phallic Blue Origin rocket in the center, a handful of speakers roused the crowd of around 300 Venetians, many of whom were sipping spritzes in takeaway tumblers and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes. Though the details of the Bezos wedding are highly guarded beyond the rumoured US$10-million budget, several venues, including the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where the same group managed to hang a No Bezos sign on the bell tower on Thursday, seem to be a given. Also said to be a dead-cert location in central Venice is the 14th century Misericordia, a former school armory that is now an exclusive events venue. It's widely rumoured that the main ceremony will take place her on June 28. But not if the protesters get their way. 'Bezos will never get to the Misericordia,' organizer Federica Toninello told the crowd to raucous applause. 'We will block the canals, line the streets with our bodies, block the canals with inflatables, dinghies, boats.' Another speaker, Na Haby Stella Faye, urged those gathered to make sure the wedding would be remembered for their opposition, not Sanchez's reported 27 outfit changes. 'Let's make sure that Venice is not remembered as a postcard venue where Bezos had his wedding but as the city that did not bend to oligarchs,' she said. 'We can't miss a chance to disrupt a $10-million wedding.' 'No grandi matrimoni' Others lamented the arrival of Bezos' $500 million superyacht Koru, and the other luxury leisure boats expected to be docked in the city's ports. There were also complaints about the temporary work big events like this provide, rather than full-time jobs. Jeff Bezos wedding in Venice, Italy Protester outrage against the Bezos wedding has been matched by support for the nuptials. (Andrea Pattaro/AFP/Getty Images via CNN Newsource) Bezos' wedding is clearly symbolic of Venice's current problems. Efforts to combat overtourism have resulted in a 10-euro daytripper entrance fee on weekends and peak periods while more residents are pushed out every year due to a dwindling lack of services like schools, hospitals and affordable housing. 'You're telling me none of these people shop on Amazon?' said New Orleans native Jake Springer, who, along with his wife, was spending a weekend in Venice on a wine tour through Italy. 'At least they are protesting peacefully. Americans could learn a thing or two from this.' Protests in Venice may seem like a national pastime, but it's worth noting that they have been incredibly successful in the past. The years-long 'No Grandi Navi' or 'no big ships' campaign of the pre-Covid era was successful in banning giant cruise ships from anywhere near the city center. The restrictions led to widespread changes in cruise itineraries, with many of the major lines switching from Venice as a port of call or embarking point to nearby Ravenna and Trieste. Some, including Norwegian Cruise Line, removed Venice entirely from their itineraries. Protests against Airbnb-style short-term rentals also led to changes in the number of properties an individual can own to rent out. But protesting a millionaire's wedding in a city synonymous with love? To some, 'no grandi matrimoni' or no big weddings, seems cold. Bezos' is hardly the only high-dollar wedding to be held in the city — not least George and Amal Clooney's nuptials in 2014, which were cheered on by locals. So far this year, city officials say three multi-million-dollar weddings have been held without any opposition. Luca Zaia, the head of the surrounding Veneto region, calls the protests a disgrace. 'I am ashamed' 'I want Jeff Bezos to be welcomed with open arms in Venice. Protesting against those who bring visibility and wealth to our territory is, in my opinion, a disgrace,' he said Friday. Jeff Bezos wedding in Venice, Italy Protesters display a banner reading "No Space for Bezos!" on the Rialto Bridge. ( Manuel Silvestri/Reuters via CNN Newsource) Venice's mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, said he hoped the protest won't dissuade Bezos and Sanchez from keeping their plans. 'We will have to apologize to Bezos,' Brugnaro told reporters in Venice on Friday. 'I am ashamed of those who behave like this. I hope that Bezos comes anyway. Not all Venetians think like these protesters.' Across town at the Biennale of Architecture, a regular event on the Venice calendar, the sentiment was much more in line with city officials than the protesters. 'It seems ridiculous that a city that lives off tourism like Venice wouldn't want an event like this, which will employ hundreds of people from waiters to water taxi drivers,' Görge Meyer, who was visiting from Berlin, said. 'All the guests and journalists will be staying at hotels, eating at restaurants and spending money. And they want to stop the cash influx?' Gillian Longworth McGuire, an American travel writer and tour planner who moved from Rome to Venice 10 years ago, points out that famous people have been coming to Venice to get married for centuries and wealthy people have been parking their yachts in Venice for decades. 'Venice just doesn't have a clear idea of what it is supposed to be sometimes,' she said. 'Is it a magical place carved out of a lagoon, built by merchants and fishermen, or a bachelorette party and mega wedding venue? 'The ethos of this city was always that it was the crossroads of culture and the world. Venice doesn't need an event like this to prove itself. People will always come no matter who gets married here and who is against it.'
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Pope Leo XIV holds an audience with Al Pacino
Al Pacino and film producer Andrea Iervolino met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, Iervolino shared on his Instagram page Monday. Getty Images via CNN Newsource Al Pacino and film producer Andrea Iervolino met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, Iervolino shared on his Instagram page Monday. Iervolino, who is the producer of the upcoming film 'Maserati: The Brothers,' in which Pacino appears, posted photos on his Instagram page showing himself and Pacino meeting with the new Pontiff in Vatican City. In a statement to Variety, Iervolino said that they are 'honored to announce that this morning His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received in a private audience at the Holy See a delegation from the film 'Maserati: The Brothers.'' 'The meeting was a moment of profound spiritual and cultural inspiration, centered around shared values that lie at the heart of both the Catholic Church and the film: family unity, love, compassion and the importance of contributing to the common good,' the statement continued. 'These values, which Pope Leo XIV has consistently emphasized in his recent messages to the world, resonate deeply with the story of the Maserati brothers: a family whose legacy was built not only on innovation and excellence but on profound mutual respect, solidarity and a shared vision.' The 'Godfather' star is reportedly set to play Vincenzo Vaccaro, a businessman who invested in the Maserati family's company in its early days. Maserati is an Italy-based luxury car company. Jessica Alba, Anthony Hopkins, Andy Garcia and Michele Morrone, among others, round out the cast of the Bobby Moresco-directed film, which is filming in Rome. Pope Leo XIV made history when he was elected as the first American pope last month following the death of Pope Francis. The 69-year-old from Chicago, a former Cardinal named Robert Prevost became the 267th pope on May 8. By Alli Rosenbloom, CNN
Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- Globe and Mail
Caravaggio exhibition at Rome's Palazzo Barberini could be the best show yet of his works
Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi, better known as Caravaggio, did everything in a hurry. He was flat broke when he arrived in Rome around 1595, but within a few years had become the city's most envied painter. He quickly dethroned the reigning style of Italian art, and his influence spread rapidly through his native land and beyond. He even sped up the act of painting, dispensing with steps that other painters took for granted. Caravaggio is one of the most popular Old Masters, which is why a major exhibition of his work at Rome's Palazzo Barberini is sure to be a hot ticket through to its closing date on July 6. Even Pope Francis was a fan; his favourite canvas, The Calling of St. Matthew, hangs in Rome's church of San Luigi dei Francesi. 2025 summer visual arts preview: Canada is going 'elbows up' with a strong showing of homegrown talent The show's 24 canvases came from 17 museums in Europe and the U.S., as well as from private collections. With only about 60 paintings by Caravaggio known to exist, the curators who coaxed so many owners to loan their treasures are right to call this one of the most ambitious shows of his work. The exhibition includes a recently authenticated Ecce Homo, described by Madrid's Museo del Prado as 'one of the greatest discoveries in the history of art.' There's also a remarkably casual portrait of Maffeo Barberini (who later became Pope Urban VIII), which was authenticated in the 1960s but until now has remained hidden in a private collection. Caravaggio challenged an idealizing style of painting in which gesture and expression were heavily formalized, especially in religious art. As co-curator Francesca Cappelletti writes in the exhibition catalogue, his canvases feature 'a humanity made up of wrinkled old men, insolent or sullen teenagers, and beautiful girls with somewhat marked features, with dirty feet and blackened nails just about everywhere.' He also painted from life, as was seldom done at the time, with little preliminary sketching. He found his models within a circle of friends, lovers and street characters, some of whom posed for him repeatedly. Unusual Lawren Harris painting showing in Nova Scotia to mark William Davis centenary The show's outstanding ensemble is a trio of large religious paintings, gathered from museums in three countries, all featuring the same model – reputedly the courtesan Fillide Melandroni. In Judith Beheading Holofernes, she handles her sword at arm's length, rotating both forearms toward the viewer, as if to tumble the general's head onto the gallery floor. Holofernes, his mouth open in a death roar, clenches his fist near the jets of blood shooting toward the viewer's feet. Everything is boldly lit from the sides and crowded toward the front of the picture plane, with almost no visible background. Caravaggio's use of strong contrasts of light and dark (or chiaroscuro) is often compared to theatrical lighting (and to film noir, the mid-20th-century style of high-contrast cinematography). Lighting in 17th-century theatres, however, was mostly from footlights, and would remain so until after French impressionist artist Edgar Degas had made his theatre paintings more than three centuries later. Caravaggio's real inspiration was ordinary domestic lighting, which had somehow gone unnoticed by other painters. The darkness that often surrounds his figures is actually the ground colour – usually brown – used as a preliminary base. In the flinty Martyrdom of Saint Ursula, the dark ground (deep brown bordering on black) takes up more than half of the painting. He also used the ground to define contours, as Rossella Vodret reveals in her catalogue essay about Caravaggio's methods. That meant he could continue painting without waiting for the neighbouring section to dry. 'The execution of his paintings was extremely fast,' Vodret writes. Caravaggio's live modelling and quick brushwork jacked up the intensity of paintings such as The Flagellation of Christ. The brutality of the scene is focused in a fist clutching at Christ's hair, and in the contortions of another man tying his hands while seeming to kick at his leg. In David With the Head of Goliath, the giant-killer's foreshortened arm thrusts the severed head out from the darkness, the sidelight glinting on Goliath's staring eye and sagging lower lip. The expression on the boy's face, tilted to the side and half in shadow, seems more troubled than victorious – just one of many Caravaggio faces that register complex feelings about what is happening. A partly shadowed figure in the newly authenticated Ecce Homo stares at us over Christ's shoulder with a look of raw dismay that wouldn't be out of place in a painting by Francisco Goya. Caravaggio was a violent man in a society where a slight could lead to a brawl, such as the one that opens Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, written at about the time the painter arrived in Rome. He was well-known to police before he killed a man in 1606, and died in exile four years later, at the age of 38. For decades after, young painters streamed to Rome to study Caravaggio's canvases. These 'Caravaggists' included the Spaniard José de Ribera, who, at Rome's Galleria Borghese, has three works hanging opposite three by his hero. These include Caravaggio's thinly illuminated painting of Saint Jerome Writing, his lean bare arm reaching at full length with his pen, toward a book held open with a skull. Caravaggio's followers ultimately weighed against his own reputation. 'By the end of the seventeenth century,' writes art historian Nicholas Penny, 'Caravaggio's work was increasingly confused with that of inferior imitators.' In Cappelletti's words, 'he disappeared both from scholarship and the public imagination' until the 20th century. Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond explores Indigenous masks that inspired Paris Surrealists Cappelletti's approach to the show she co-curated with Maria Cristina Terzaghi and Thomas Clement Salomon is scholarly in a traditional sense, with little interest in themes such as the painter's sexuality. Keith Christiansen, a former Metropolitan Museum curator, claims in his catalogue essay that there is 'no evidence that Caravaggio thought of his art as a vehicle of self-expression.' It's easy to see, however, that he revelled in the young flesh of his sullen, half-naked boys. And he was keenly aware that he was up to something quite different, technically and emotionally, from his peers. That something continues to speak to us loudly, five centuries after his death. Caravaggio 2025 continues through July 6 at the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica in Rome's Palazzo Barberini.
