Venice’s floods are not signs of a ‘climate apocalypse’. My article on the problems faced by #Venice and the nearby area published by @spikedonline.
While Venice and the surrounding area have suffered badly from flooding over the last two weeks, there has not been apocalyptic devastation. Moreover, although climate change has been a cause of rising sea levels and contributed to the flooding, subsidence has been a major cause too. As I set out in the article published on … Continue reading
Article in The Epoch Times on Venice and tourism with contrasting views, including my own
This insightful and perceptive article by Angela Giuffrida was published on 31 May 2017 in The Epoch Times, which is based in the USA but is published in 21 languages and 35 countries. It includes different interpretations of how tourism is impacting Venice today and its historical role, including my own comments. Click on the … Continue reading
New York Review of Books regurgitates pessimism about the death of Venice, climate alarmism and prejudices about tourists
A new article, ‘The Coming Death of Venice?’, by Anna Somers Cocks about Venice in the New York Review of Books regurgitates pessimism about the death of the city, climate alarmism and the usual prejudices about tourism. The death of Venice is a remarkably unoriginal subject. It was an emergent theme when Venetians suffered from … Continue reading
Challenging Venice’s etiquette rules which penalize residents and tourists
This year anti-tourism campaigns and attempts to regulate tourists in Venice have reached new heights. I strongly advised against discriminating against tourists in my book, Venice in Environmental Peril? Myth and Reality (2012). Apart from the possible economic impact of being negative towards tourists, we are all people, residents are sometimes tourists too and tourists … Continue reading
Mayor of Venice reveals possible new solution to cruise ship ‘problem’
Giorgio Orsoni, Venice’s Mayor, has revealed that he has commissioned a study to investigate establishing a new maritime port for cruise ships at Marghera, which is on the mainland side of the Venetian lagoon. This proposal was outlined during a meeting on 2 October 2012 between the Mayor and representatives of the “No Big Ships” … Continue reading
Hit team to ‘educate’ tourists in Venice
Venice City Councillor Carla Rey held a press conference at 11 am on 11 May 2012 to inaugurate a team of 15 stewards and hostesses who will ‘educate’ tourists in and near St Mark’s Square. Although the City Council press release was careful to stress that they will educate tourists and citizens, its title focused … Continue reading
Environmentalists in Venice are riding the waves of a cruise crash
Venice’s No Grandi Navi (No Big Ships) campaign, which is supported by many environmentalists, has been bolstered by the Costa Concordia cruise ship crash. But the campaign’s claims do not justify the banning of cruise ships from the Venetian lagoon. Nor do they merit the phasing out of cruise ship passage through the waters of … Continue reading
Venice Carnival Chaos or Fun?
Crowds flocked to Venice on 26 February 2011 for special events during this year’s Carnival. The day featured the ‘Marie’ procession of beautiful girls and others in elaborate medieval costumes. In addition, the second Biennale Carnival for children had a special day of events in the central pavilion of the public gardens. Local newspapers reported … Continue reading
Yacht docking proposal under scrutiny
A request from the company ‘Venice Yacht Pier Srl’ to construct new docking facilities along the Riva dei Sette Martiri are being scrutinised by Venice Port Authority and Venice City Council. The proposal is for a double quay and a dock of 2,430 square meters to be situated at the water’s edge between St Mark’s … Continue reading
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