More authentic shops close doors in Venice, but YOU can help!

Most of the beauty that you see around you in Venice, dates back to the time of the Serenissima Republic. Beyond the renown success of the local merchants, what made Venice a super-power of the middle-age was its unique long-term management. The decisions in Venice were all made in order to see the city standing healthy centuries later.

Sadly, this longterm thinking is long gone…Instead, the leadership of today and the past decades, have been prioritizing short-term benefits.
A direct consequence of this approach has been the decrease of protection of the local socio-economic tissue, by the removal of laws limiting foreign investment. Hear us, we have nothing against foreign investment and cultural diversity; to be honest, we’re in favor of it as long as it remains controlled and beneficial to all.

The Republic of Venice, itself, became glorious thanks to the multiculturalism of its population; but there were rules, strict and respected rules, making sure that the needs of this same population were taken care of. Never would you have seen an abundance of shops of the same sort, not serving the population, flourish and pushing the services of public interest out of business.
Nevertheless, it is what’s happening in contemporary Venice.

Recently, a spice-shop and a milk-shop, two local businesses clearly catering to the local population, had to shut doors. It hurts us all, but we can act, there is no need to be in politic to do so. Even as a non-citizen you can vote for Venice and its future, by putting your money in the right place.

If you care about Venice, you care about the Venetians and their future, and if you want to help them, the best thing you can do is to make sure to support as much as you can the Venetian businesses by going to the local shops, restaurants & bars… A 10 euros spent in the right place means much more than you think. It might allow a shop owner to stay one more month in business, and this is a really big deal.

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