Cultural events, urban modifications . Venice (Italy) and the modernity

Abstract

The speech on tourism and the urban structures deals with real, imaginary and symbolic themes. Starting from the images of the aristocratic holidays, and of travelling like a cultural adventure, I consider Venice as a study-case: 10 millions tourists per year (85% from foreign countries) face 60.000 inhabitants, who live within the central islands. The Lido of Venice presents an auton- omous feature within this system of urbanization, presenting an image related to the “Belle Epoque”. The transformation of the different parts of the city seems now to pass through the relations among different fields. The first one is represented by the cul- tural activities, which is the most lively aspect. The second one is represented by the demand for an environmental quality, be- coming higher. The third one is represented by the residential function, that comes together with the reduction of the welfare state. The fourth field is represented by local economical activities, in a time when unemployment is getting in Italy more and more high (40% jobless young people). While tourists keep in coming to Venice with an unlimited, vague and mediatic idea of its essence, the citizens and their politicians should better think at Venice like a great but limited resource, that cannot be preserved if its citi- zens don’t increase it through ordinary actions, within a coherent public vision.