6 days ago
Inside plans to transform derelict island for Venice residents
Venetian activists from the group Poveglia per Tutti have received permission to transform part of the abandoned island of Poveglia into a public lagoon park.
The park, set to open from 1 August, aims to provide a space for locals to escape the millions of tourists visiting Venice annually.
This initiative is a response to overtourism in Venice, which has led to a decline in the city 's resident population and strain on infrastructure.
Poveglia, historically used as a quarantine site and later a mental hospital, has been abandoned since 1968.
Poveglia per Tutti has secured €300,000 for the initial phase and plans further fundraising, partnering with the University of Verona to study the project's social impact.
