Venetian activists are mobilizing to disrupt a planned visit by US Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta, who intends to dock his 117-metre superyacht Boardwalk in the historic lagoon city during the Festa del Redentore fireworks display. The protest, organized by a group of about 40 demonstrators on Thursday, aims to repeat the disruption of Jeff Bezos's wedding last June, when Venetians protested against the billionaire's ostentatious takeover of their city.
"We ruined the party for Jeff Bezos's wedding last year – this year let's ruin the ambassador's tour!" said Stella Faye, a 28-year-old researcher and activist, at a meeting of demonstrators. Fertitta, an entertainment mogul who owns the NBA team Houston Rockets and has an estimated net worth of $14.2bn, plans to visit Venice on 17 July as part of a cruise around Italy's coastline to celebrate ties between Rome and Washington and the 250th anniversary of US independence – a tour he has called "Coastal Diplomacy 250."
Fears Over Fireworks Obstructed
The Festa del Redentore, held on the third weekend of July, is one of Venice's most important traditions, commemorating the end of a 16th-century bubonic plague epidemic that killed more than 50,000 people – exceeding the city's current official resident count. The main event is a spectacular Saturday night firework display, with thousands of Venetians lining waterfronts and gathering in boats in the Giudecca canal and in front of St Mark's Square. Activists fear Fertitta's yacht, which is 32 metres high with six decks, two helipads, and two swimming pools, worth $450m, could dock at the most central spots – off Punta della Dogana or on Riva dei Sette Martiri – obstructing views for locals.
"Redentore is one of the few occasions that still belongs to the people of Venice," Faye said. "The city letting this yacht come to Venice would be a slap in the face for Venetians," added Giulia Cacopardo, a 29-year-old activist and cultural coordinator. "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."
Safety and Political Concerns
Protesters also raised safety concerns, arguing that local police would be diverted to protect the ambassador and manage boat traffic around the yacht, rather than ensuring the smooth running of the event for Venetians. "This isn't just an inconvenience, it's a danger to the public," Faye said. The activists adopted the punning slogan "Venezia non si USA" ("Stop using Venice"), emphasizing their opposition to Fertitta's role in what they call the "warmongering and colonialist" Trump administration. One protester jokingly suggested "bringing back the crocodiles," referencing last year's threat to fill canals with inflatable crocodiles, which forced Bezos's wedding reception to change venue at the last minute.
Fertitta's trip comes amid strained relations between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, worsened after Trump claimed Meloni had "begged" him for a photo at the G7 summit in France. Meloni retorted: "Neither I nor Italy ever beg." Fertitta downplayed the spat in an interview with Sky TG24 on Wednesday, saying the two leaders were "totally on the same page." The US embassy in Rome and the port authority in Venice have been contacted for comment.
