New Venice terminal for cruise ships and campaign against them
A new terminal called ‘Isonzo 2’ was opened at the Maritime Station in Venice on 13 July. This terminal will provide more space for larger cruise ships to dock, as illustrated by the Venice Port Authority here: Inauguration of the new Cruise Terminal Isonzo 2 However, the inauguration of the new terminal was met with … Continue reading
“Planetary alarm” for an “ecological disaster” in Venice?
The environmental group Italia Nostra (Our Italy) dramatically declared impending catastrophe in Venice during a national press conference on 4 July. Cristiano Gasparetto, a member of the board for Italia Nostra’s Venice chapter, announced that Venice risks becoming an “ecological disaster.” Alessandra Mottola Molino, Italia Nostra’s President, explained that “We need to launch a planetary … Continue reading
Venice’s Lido beaches made into free public spaces
Giorgio Orsoni, Mayor of Venice, has signed an ordinance ending private colonisation of beaches on Venice’s Lido Littoral Island. Hotels will no longer be able to restrict entry to pass holders for the more exclusive Lido beaches, as reported on 28 June in the Venice newspaper La Nuova di Venezia e Mestre here: Venezia, la … Continue reading
Tram Approval by Venice City Council
Venice City Council has agreed proposals for a tram service, as reported on 21 June in the Venice newspaper La Nuova di Venezia e Mestre here: Fermata del tram al garage comunale capolinea a San Basilio The Council approved a tram stop at Piazzale Roma, which is the final drop-off point for cars and buses … Continue reading
Tourist tax approved by Venice Mayor
Tourist taxes to be levied on people who stay in Venice and nearby were approved by Giorgio Orsoni, Venice Mayor, on Tuesday 7 June 2001. However, the taxes still require final City Council approval and the Minister of Tourism, Michela Brambilla, questioned their legality without central government endorsement. Press reports suggested that the tourist taxes … Continue reading
Paradise Lost and climate sustainability
In John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, the angel Michael shows Adam a vision of the Great Flood that God will send to punish the wickedness of his creation: man. Will Venice, Rotterdam, Boston, south-west Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Burma be the victims of this prediction as global sea levels have risen over the last … Continue reading
Anti-Nuclear Demonstrations
Demonstrations against restarting nuclear power generation in Italy have been held in Venice and other cities in Italy in the buildup to the planned referendum on 12 and 13 June 2011. A demonstration on St Mark’s Square, Venice, highlighted the nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan, and the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident in … Continue reading
Coast Cities in the Fight against Climate Change
As part of the five day conference ‘Coast Cities in the Fight against Climate Change’ at Barbarigo della Terrazza Palace, Venice, I am giving a lecture about Venice and climate change. My lecture takes place at 2:30 PM on 4 May 2011 and will be followed by discussion. If you cannot come, but would like … Continue reading
Children’s Theme Park for Venice?
A great plan to transform the old Fort of Marghera into a children’s theme park city is facing opposition. The derelict Fort is situated in Marghera on the mainland near the Venetian lagoon. But ABO, a non-governmental organisation that raises funds to promote cancer research, is challenging the plan for the children’s city. Instead, ABO … Continue reading
New Venice hotels on mainland, not in palaces
Another Venetian palace was put up for sale on 31 March 2011. Palazzo Stern is being sold by the Italian Health Authority ASL, as reported by Massimo Scattolin in the newspaper La Nuova di Venezia e Mestre (31 March 2011). This decision followed recent announcements that three other Venetian palaces (Dubois, Bacchini and Corner) would … Continue reading
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