Venice, a city famed for its beauty and history, has turned into a battleground of luxury and outrage due to the wedding of one of the richest men in the world, Jeff Bezos, and his partner Lauren Sanchez. While the world marvels at the glamour and celebration, local residents and previously booked guests of luxury hotels are left shocked and furious.
Imagine booking a room at the luxury Aman hotel, only to be kicked out because Bezos rented the entire hotel for his guests! Yes, you read that right. Guests who had earlier reserved rooms were forced to pack up, move, and unpack elsewhere, with the hotel covering their costs. No wonder some are fuming – who likes their plans ruined by billionaires?
And that’s not all. Security measures are on a state-secret level. Seven police officers were spotted at the luxury St. Regis hotel, where VIP guests are staying. Police presence has been ramped up, which is unusual for this hotel, and locals were stunned by the number of officers and security on the boat.
The wedding is taking place on the island of San Giorgio, which will be closed to the public for six days. The day before the wedding, June 26, a gala dinner will be held in a private cloister in the heart of Venice, followed by a big party on June 28. Bezos’s yacht, worth millions of dollars, is anchored as the base for the celebration.
But it’s not all rosy. The original plan to hold the celebration in Cannaregio was changed due to threats from protesters who vowed to block canals and streets in protest against tourism and privatization of public spaces.
A giant banner appeared at Piazza San Marco reading: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax!” The message is clear – the rich use their money to shut down the city for ordinary people, and citizens are angry.
This isn’t just a wedding story. It’s about how wealth and power can change a city, evict people from their homes and hotels, and turn public space into a private party for the elite. Venice, a city of art and culture, is now a battleground between the rich and the common folk.
Is this the right path? Should luxury and celebration trump citizens’ rights? Or is it time for the rich to learn that money can’t buy everything? Drop your thoughts – could you handle being kicked out of a hotel for someone’s wedding? Or is this just another day in the life of the rich and famous?
