Activists in Venice plan protest against US ambassador's superyacht visit

Activists in Venice are preparing demonstrations against US Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta, who is expected to arrive in the city aboard his 117-metre superyacht on July 17. Protesters fear the vessel could dock in the historic lagoon during the Festa del Redentore, one of Venice's most cherished annual celebrations.

At a meeting of about 40 demonstrators on Thursday, activist and researcher Stella Faye urged residents to oppose the visit, saying: “We ruined the party for Jeff Bezos’s wedding last year – this year let’s ruin the ambassador’s tour!”

The planned protest follows similar demonstrations in June last year, when Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez held their lavish wedding in Venice. Residents protested what they viewed as the city's takeover by the ultra-wealthy, forcing organisers to move the wedding reception after activists threatened to fill the canals with inflatable crocodiles.

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Recalling that campaign, one participant joked about “bringing back the crocodiles”, drawing laughter from those present.

Fertitta's visit is part of his "Coastal Diplomacy 250" tour, a cruise along Italy's coastline marking the 250th anniversary of US independence while celebrating ties between Rome and Washington.

Why are activists protesting?

Activists are particularly concerned that Fertitta's yacht, Boardwalk, could dock in the heart of Venice during the Festa del Redentore. The annual celebration, held on the third weekend of July, commemorates the end of the 16th-century bubonic plague epidemic that claimed more than 50,000 lives in the city.

Each year, a temporary floating bridge connects Venice's main island with the Redentore Church on Giudecca, allowing thousands of residents to cross on foot for thanksgiving services. The celebrations culminate in a major fireworks display watched by crowds gathered along the waterfront and aboard boats in the Giudecca Canal.

Faye said the festival remains one of the few events that truly belongs to local residents.

“Redentore is one of the few occasions that still belongs to the people of Venice,” Faye said.

Protesters argue that the presence of Fertitta's six-deck yacht, equipped with two helipads and two swimming pools and reportedly valued at $450 million, could obstruct views of the fireworks if it docks near Punta della Dogana or Riva dei Sette Martiri—two of the most central mooring locations for vessels of its size.

Giulia Cacopardo, an activist and cultural coordinator, criticised the prospect of allowing the yacht into the city during the festival.

“The city letting this yacht come to Venice would be a slap in the face for Venetians,” she said. “In a city where quality of life is in tatters because there’s nowhere to live and only precarious jobs, we have billionaires thinking they can do whatever they want. It shows the arrogance of money – coming to a party for citizens that you probably don’t know anything about.”

During Thursday's meeting, demonstrators also voiced frustration that Venice increasingly serves as a backdrop for wealthy celebrities, business figures and politicians rather than its own residents.

'Stop using Venice'

They further expressed concerns that security arrangements for the ambassador could disrupt the festival, arguing that police resources would be diverted to protecting Fertitta and managing boat traffic around his yacht.

“This isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a danger to the public,” Faye said.

The campaign has adopted the slogan “Venezia non si USA” ("Stop using Venice"), with organisers saying their opposition is driven not only by Fertitta's wealth but also by his position in what they describe as the “warmongering and colonialist” Trump administration.

Fertitta, who owns the NBA's Houston Rockets and has an estimated fortune of $14.2 billion, also helped finance Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

His visit comes amid tensions between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after Trump claimed she had “begged” him to pose for a photograph during the G7 summit in France. Meloni rejected the remark, responding: “Neither I nor Italy ever beg.”

Speaking to Sky TG24 on Wednesday, Fertitta dismissed suggestions of strained relations, saying the two leaders were “totally on the same page”.

The US Embassy in Rome and the Venice port authority have been approached for comment.