THEAnd waters of the lagoon are agitated, but not for the usual traffic of gondole and vaporetti. A few days after the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchezscheduled between 26 and 28 June, Venice is crossed by a wave of protests which threatens to transform the event into a political and social case. The activists of the movement “No Space for Bezos“They promised battle, declaring that they want to block access to the main party, scheduled for June 28 at the School of Misericordia. With banners hanging from bridges and posters posted on the walls of the city, The Committee denounces the event as the umpteenth invasion of luxury tourismwho suffocates Venice and transforms it into a stage for billionaires. But will the protests really be able to stop the most anticipated marriage of the year?
Bezos wedding in Venice: protests, budget, nine yacht
The ceremony, which will not be recorded in Italy, promises to be a fairytale celebration. 250 VIP guests, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and the Kardashian clanthey will stay in six luxury hotels, including Danieli, Gritti and Cipriani. Bezos will arrive with a fleet of nine yachts, including his Megayacht Koru, and has booked 30 watering taxi for guests’ movements.
The party after the ceremony, scheduled for Church of the Abbey of Mercy, It will be divided into several exclusive eventsfrom the Lido of Venice to the Cini Foundation, up to the final Ball at the School of Misericordia. But while the spouses prepare to celebrate, The city is divided Among those who welcome Bezos as an economic opportunity and those who consider it a symbol of unbridled capitalism.
No Space for Bezos: the safety plan
The movement “No Space for Bezos“He announced a disturbing actions, including The blocking of channels and principals in the calls to prevent access to the party. Activists denounce the event as a privatization of the city, which excludes the Venetians and strengthens the model of a Venice reserved for super-riches. The mayor Luigi Brugnaro and the governor Luca Zaia defend the marriageclaiming that it will bring visibility and investments. But the police headquarters are defining an extraordinary security plan, and the Municipality could deploy the local police to protect the event.
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. (Getty Images)
An event that reflects the debate on patriarchate and power
In addition to the controversies on luxury tourism, Bezos’ wedding also fits into another wider debate, on power and patriarchate. The figure of Bezos, a billionaire and businessman, represents a successful model built on dynamics of economic domain, while the narrative around Lauren Sanchez, former journalist and pilot, risks reducing her to the role of wife of the magnate.
The protests against marriage do not therefore concern the impact on the city, but also the celebration of A system that rewards male power and extreme wealthexcluding those who do not belong to these elites.
The Wedding Planner Lanza & Baucina
The event is in the hands of a local organization, the Lanza & Baucina. Companies that in recent years has put hands on the Venetian Vip weddings market and belonging to Antonio Licata di Baucina and his cousins Riccardo And Aleramo Lanza. The first is a prince, the second are accounts. Organization therefore of the aristocratic spirit that ensures maximum surrender and maximum discretion, now precisely committed to managing the chaos of the Bezos wedding besieged by threats of incursion and blocking of the city.
Thus did not go for the most famous marriage of which Lanza & Baucina dealt with: the one between George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin, in 2014. But not for that of François-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek (in 2009), and of Alexandre Arnault and Géraldine Guyot With a party on the island of San Giorgio for 200 people.
The party will be done, but Venice is in turmoil
Despite the disputes, the marriage, however, will be held as expected. The spouses have unlimited resources and can modify the plans at the last moment, changing the city, locations or means of transport if necessary. It must be said, however, that The protest has already obtained a result: he turned on the spotlight on a city fighting for his identitybetween mass tourism, speculation and social resistance. Venice is not just a postcard, they say its citizens: It is a living city, which does not want to be sold to the best bidder.
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