The Most Stylish New Hotels Coming To Italy This Summer
Collegio alla Querce
The heavily hyped Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection just opened in Florence and is slated to be a big hit this summer. Auberge has transformed the 16th-century property and former elite boys school into an 83-bedroom retreat above the hills of Florence, filled with fascinating design highlights like a bar in the former headmaster's office and tiered Baroque-styled gardens, fringing one of the largest pools in Florence.
Zimara
Set in the historic center of the Puglian Baroque town of Lecce, Palazzo Zimara is a 16th-century palazzo turned into an intimate 18-room hideaway. The design of this family-run property comes care of Italian architect Raffaele Centonze, whose work can be seen at the nearby hotel Masseria Trapanà. If the frescoed walls and wrought-iron details weren't enough of a draw, NEOS Airlines is launching a nonstop flight from New York City to the Puglian capital of Bari starting in June.
Orient ExpressLa Minerva
The first hotel from Accor's Orient Express brand, La Minerva is coming to the Enternal City this spring. Guests can expect a rooftop restaurant and bar, as well as a spa inspired by Roman baths. There will be 93 guest rooms, including four signature suites with design highlights like ceiling frescos and Rosso Verona marble bathrooms.
Pensione America
Boutique hotel group Collezione Em will open the transformed historic villa, Pensione America, this April in the Tuscan seaside town of Forte dei Marmi. With just 18 suites (each with private outdoor space), the hotel is set just steps from the Liguarian Sea and will have a private beach club, as well as a pool.
Falkensteiner Hotel Bozen
Falkensteiner Hotel Bozen is slated to arrive in the Dolomites mountain town of Bolzano in Italy's South Tyrol region this June. While there's a bit of a commercial feel (it's part of the WaltherPark Bolzano development, which includes shops and restaurants), the 113-key hotel has a very stylish rooftop bar with views of the surrounding mountain peaks.
Casa Cook Madonna
Another June addition to the Dolomites, Casa Cook Madonna is opening in the stylish ski spot of Madonna di Campiglio. Open all seasons, the 50-key hideout will have a spa and fine dining restaurant by acclaimed chef Jacob Jan Boerma, who oversees Michelin-starred restaurants all around the world.
Nobu Roma
Stationed on Rome's famous Via Veneto just steps from top tourist sights like Villa Borghese, Trevi Fountain and Piazza di Spagna, Nobu Hotel Roma will be comprised of two 19th-century buildings and house 122 rooms. As with all Nobu Hotels the look here is Japanese minimalism; however, there will be a distinct dolce vita design twist on the rooftop terrace.
The original J.K. Place Roma
Located on a parallel street to the widely beloved J.K. Place Hotel Roma (pictured above), the upcoming Casa J.K. Place Roma is billed as a discreet palazzo dressed by longtime J.K. collaborator Michele Bonan. The new property will have 15 one- and two-bedroom 'apartments,' with three apartments per floor, which can be interconnected.
Vista Ostuni
The upcoming Vista Ostuni will be taking over a former 14th-century palazzo originally constructed as a convent in the 'White City' of Ostuni in Puglia. The new arrival will have just 28 rooms and will be surrounded by two hectares of private gardens, styled by Belgian landscape designer Erik Dhont, as well as an olive grove.
The Carlton Milan
The Carlton Milan, Rocco Forte's second property in Milan, is slated to welcome guest by late sumnmer 2025. The group's Director of Design, Olga Polizzi will be at the helm, working with interior designers Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen to dress the 70 rooms, as well as public spaces like a restaurant and lounge, wellness center and rooftop bar.
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National Geographic
6 hours ago
- National Geographic
Beyond the beach, Antalya makes for a cultural city break
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Gateway to the Turkish Riviera, Antalya basks in the sunshine on the country's southern Mediterranean coast, hugging the gulf that bears its name. Modern but with a picturesque, ancient heart, the city centres around a Roman-era harbour and the lattice of cobblestone lanes that make up the old town Kaleiçi (meaning 'within the castle'), which is dotted with centuries-old mosques and restored Ottoman houses. It's here that locals pause for long mezze lunches beneath waves of fuschia bougainvillea, or sit with an ice cream to soak up the sight of the Taurus Mountains rising in the distance beyond the bay. Much like Rome, this is a city that wears its history on its sleeve, with stretches of two-thousand-year-old walls, imposing gateways and historic mansions scattered liberally throughout its core. The nearby ruins of the ancient cities of Perge and Aspendos offer a glimpse of the power that this region commanded over the centuries — Perge, in particular, was one of the most important outposts of its era — while a vast necropolis, discovered by accident during the construction of a shopping mall, lies sandwiched between modern developments. Modern but with a picturesque, ancient heart, the city centres around a Roman-era harbour and the lattice of cobblestone lanes that make up the old town Kaleiçi (meaning 'within the castle'). Photograph by Aisha Nazar The majority of travellers in search of a classic beach break tend to head to the Lara neighbourhood, to the east, where dozens of gargantuan hotels and all-inclusive resorts loom over a five-mile-long stretch of sand. You're more likely to find locals in Konyaalti, to the west, home to another great swathe of beach but backed by low-rise apartments. There are smaller, more intimate boutique hotels here, alongside rustic lokanta diners serving home-style cooking to hungry workers and traditional restaurants spilling out onto the pavements on the otherwise quiet residential streets. Predominantly, Antalya has been seen as a summertime destination, with its sizeable student population lending it a young, buzzy feel that pairs well with its breezy beachside location. But in recent years, the city has begun to attract visitors year-round, even in winter when temperatures can still brush the low 20s and more hotels are keeping their doors open. Whatever time you visit, you're practically guaranteed to find warm sunshine, clear aquamarine seas and good food — from simit, the sesame-studded take on bagels, to yoghurty Turkish eggs for breakfast and platters of grilled fish, freshly caught from the Mediterranean, for lunch. What to see and do Hadrian's Gate & the Kaleiçi: Start your exploration of Antalya's picturesque old town at second-century Hadrian's Gate, a trio of imposing arches set into the original outer walls of the city and built to celebrate the visit of Emperor Hadrian. Step through them and the modern city fades into a maze of streets flanked with historic Ottoman houses and carved wooden balconies, family-run restaurants and bars serving mezze dishes and fresh fish on mounds of ice. Some streets lead down to the Roman harbour, while others wind past minarets and ancient bakeries up to viewpoints and leafy squares that look out over the sea. Much like Rome, this is a city that wears its history on its sleeve, with stretches of two-thousand-year-old walls, imposing gateways and historic mansions scattered liberally throughout its core. Photograph by Aisha Nazar The Şehzade Korkut Mosque is an architectural gem in Kaleiçi (also known as the Kesik Minare Cami) that began life in the second century as a Roman temple — before being converted into a Byzantine church, a mosque, a church again and then back into a mosque. Photograph by Aisha Nazar Bay-hopping by gulet: Gulets — traditional wooden boats — sail from the Roman Harbour each morning, offering everything from two-hour drifts along Antalya's spectacular coastline, with a stop at the Lower Düden Waterfalls, to full-day tours. It's a scenic way to get your bearings, as well as snorkel in the quiet bays that fringe the pyramid-shaped Suluada Island, at the westernmost end of the Gulf of Antalya. Choose your boat on the day (most depart around 10.30am); lunch is usually included. Perge Ancient City: A 20-minute drive north east from Kaleiçi, first-century Perge is second only to Ephesus — Turkey's most famous ancient site, near Izmir on the Aegean coast — in terms of size and scale. Allow at least a couple of hours to explore beneath the imposing Hadrianus Arch, walk between the colonnades and stand in the middle of the vast stadium, which feels straight out of the Gladiator film set. Enough of the site has been restored to make it easy to visualise how it would have once looked — a must-visit, even if you aren't usually a history fan. Antalya Museum: Before visiting Perge, it's worth calling into the ancient city's imposing museum, home to hundreds of marble statues of Roman deities taken from the site, which give a real insight into how extraordinary the city would have been in its heyday. Alongside the statues, the 13 galleries house Byzantine mozaics, intricately carved sarcophagi and Paleolithic relics, including tools and human and animal remains. Exhibits extend into the leafy gardens, where peacocks — including a rare, all-white bird — stroll between the cafe tables. Hadrian's Gate is a trio of imposing arches set into the original outer walls of the city and built to celebrate the visit of Emperor Hadrian. Photograph by Aisha Nazar The Upper Düden Waterfalls tumble through tranquil, leafy parkland, 20 minutes' drive from the city centre. Photograph by Aisha Nazar Upper Düden Waterfalls: While the Lower Düden Waterfalls cascade directly into the sea in the Lara district, nine miles upriver the Upper Falls tumble through tranquil, leafy parkland, 20 minutes' drive from the city centre. A walkway is carved into the rockface around and behind the falls, opening out into a waterside path that leads down to a clutch of restaurants with decked terraces over the water — an idyllic spot for a mezze lunch or cold Efes beer. Şehzade Korkut Mosque: This architectural gem in Kaleiçi (also known as the Kesik Minare Cami) began life in the second century as a Roman temple — before being converted into a Byzantine church, a mosque, a church again and then back into a mosque. The space inside is unadorned, making the remnants of its past incarnations — including the Roman arched entrance and the remains of the church masonry — all the more remarkable. Like a local Promenade under the palms: Kept shady by rows of palms, the leafy Konyaalti Beach Park is sandwiched between the brilliant sea and a long road lined with apartments and places to eat. It has showers for those who take a dip, while the row of bars and restaurants — set on lawns and decked terraces between the trees — offer everything from ice-cold beer to fresh seafood. Stop by the Old Bazaar to buy saffron, aci biber (dried chilli flakes) and other spices, and small souvenirs to take home. Photograph by Aisha Nazar Turkish coffee can be enjoyed from kiosk near the Lower Düden Waterfalls. Photograph by Aisha Nazar Eat in the fish market: Located next to the Lower Düden Waterfalls, Balik Çarşisi is Antalya's modern fish market. Trestle tables packed with local families fill the cavernous space; it's noisy, rustic and alcohol-free, but the choice and freshness of the seafood is unbeatable. Browse the Bazaar: The market held every Tuesday in Konyaalti's Liman neighbourhood is a more local affair than the Old Bazaar — the city's main marketplace, north of Kaleiçi — with stalls selling fruit and veg, clothes, shoes and homewares. Pick up a gozleme (a warm flat bread filled with feta cheese or spiced potatoes) to enjoy as you browse the place. Where to go shopping Faruk Güllüoğlu: Of all the Turkish desserts, none are more famous than baklava — layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and coated in a sweet syrup. A box from Faruk Güllüoğlu — Antalya's most popular bakery chain — is often taken as a gift by local people when visiting relatives. Choose from traditional pistachio, kuru baklava with its thicker syrup or cevizli, filled with cinnamon and walnuts. The Old Bazaar: Hung with jewel-hued lanterns and Ottoman-print scarves, this is the main market in the city and is located just north of Kaleiçi. Come to buy saffron, aci biber (dried chilli flakes) and other spices, and small souvenirs to take home. It's popular, so haggle hard and don't be afraid to walk away if the price doesn't suit. 07040 Muratpaşa Shaded by palm trees and popular with locals; Koori Tex in Kaleiçi is a family business specialising in cotton products. Photograph by Aisha Nazar Koori Tex: Among the Kaleiçi's endless souvenir shops, this neat, cream-walled boutique sells chic cotton scarves, muslin dressing gowns and linen dresses. All the fabrics are organic — plus, the lightweight cotton towels on sale are perfect for the beach. Where to eat Parlak: Family-run for three generations, Parlak, just off the main shopping street Kazim Özalp Caddesi, is most famous for its grilled chicken, slathered in butter and cooked over open flames. Book a table on the new outdoor terrace and begin with piyaz white bean salad and spicy, finger-shaped sis kofta meatballs and finish off with a glass or two of raki, Turkey's aniseed-flavoured spirit. Ayar Meyhanesi: On a cobbled corner of Kaleiçi, this open-air restaurant is famed for its mezze — yoghurt-rich dips, smoky aubergine salad, crispy borek (spinach and cheese pie) and filo cigarettes stuffed with feta and parsley — along with fish like turbot, grouper and sea bass, grilled and butter-soft. Live Turkish music adds to the atmosphere and it's mellow enough that you can still chat without having to shout. Antalya Balık Evi: Snag an outdoor table at this popular fish restaurant directly opposite Lara's sandy beach and dine on classic Turkish dishes with a creative twist. Among them is grilled octopus with soy and balsamic, and candied pumpkin baked with sugar and walnuts — deliciously sticky and super-sweet. Parlak is located off the main shopping street Kazim Özalp Caddesi, and is most famous for its grilled chicken, slathered in butter and cooked over open flames. Photograph by Aisha Nazar After hours Off Cocktail Bar: One of the most innovative cocktail bars in the city, Off in Lara is cool and contemporary, with a chic wood-and-rattan interior and a drinks menu encompassing sours, shots and the classics. The house originals are numbered from 1-11; the No 10 — tequila, lemon juice, chilli and grapefruit — has a particularly spicy kick. Filika Cafe Bar: A long-time favourite with locals as well as visitors, Filika morphs from chilled-out cafe by day to lively bar by night, with tables spilling onto a Kaleiçi street and regular live music. It's not the place to come for an evening of mellow jazz, but rather a fun, mixed group of people and a crowd-pleasing menu of reasonably priced cocktails. 251 Soul: Part of the Akra Hotel on Lara's long, beachy strip, 251 Soul is a rare musical find in Antalya, focusing on blues, jazz and soul seven nights a week. Dimly lit, with small, circular tables and a gleaming bar, it specialises in dry-as-a-bone martinis. There's more than a hint of speakeasy style, attracting a young, trendy crowd. Snag an outdoor table at the popular fish restaurant, Antalya Balik Evi, and dine on classic Turkish dishes with a creative twist. Photograph by Aisha Nazar The pool at Tuvana hotel is surrounded by bougainvillea and pomegranate trees. Photograph by Aisha Nazar Where to stay Tuvana: The owners of Tuvana grew up in Kaleiçi and restoring this cluster of 18th-century Ottoman houses surrounding two peaceful courtyards has been their passion project. Rooms range from small and simple, with exposed stone walls and wooden beams, to spacious suites with crisp white walls, gilt-framed mirrors and scarlet drapes. All have access to the good-sized pool and palm-shaded bar terrace, with the second courtyard home to the excellent Seraser restaurant. Ruin Adalia: Part adults-only hotel, part museum, these five Ottoman houses sit above a Roman archaeological site — the largest in Kaleiçi, with ancient walls and masonry accessed via a wooden boardwalk. Above, chic rooms with muted gold furnishings and duck-egg fabric feel cool and airy, while the pool and plant-filled terrace area is a peaceful oasis in the middle of the old town. Su Hotel: This contemporary hotel in Konyaaltı is an all-white temple to minimalism, from the extraordinary monochrome lobby to the bedrooms framed with jet-black curtains. The exception lies in the aptly named Red restaurant, which is decked top-to-toe in bright scarlet shades. There's also a world-class spa and pretty, lounger-fringed pool here, while the rooftop bar is the ideal place for sundowners come nightfall. Getting there & around: Antalya-based airline SunExpress flies direct from Gatwick, Liverpool and Birmingham to Antalya. Alternatively, airlines such as Jet2, EasyJet and British Airways fly direct to Antalya from airports across the UK. Average flight time: city's modern tram system offers a direct connection between the airport and the city centre; take the AntRay tram to the central tram station, from where it's a short taxi ride to further points in the city. Antalya is a big city — from Lara to Konyaalti or Kaleiçi can take up to 40 minutes — so it's a good idea to download the AntalyaKart Mobil transportation app to make use of the excellent bus service. Buses can be paid for by contactless payment or via an AntalyaKart card (available from vending machines at stations), which can be topped up. Taxis are also plentiful; always make sure the meter is set and running when you begin your journey to ensure a fair price. When to go: Antalya gets very hot and busy in June, July and August, the peak summer months, when temperatures can top 40C. The shoulder seasons — May to June and September to October — are more manageable, with the mercury rarely dipping below 25C and fewer crowds. Increasingly, Antalya is becoming known as a winter sun destination, with November and February to March still seeing temperatures in the low to mid 20s. December and January can still be pleasant, although there is more likelihood of rain. More info: DK Top 10: Turkey's Southwest Coast, Dorling Kindersley. £8.99 How to do it: Fly direct to Antalya with SunExpress. Stay at the Tuvana boutique hotel, which has doubles from £85, B&B. This story was created with the support of Sun Express, the Tuvana Hotel, Parlak Restaurant and Published in the July/August 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business Insider
I've been to Las Vegas over 50 times. Here are the 8 best places to eat on The Strip.
I've been to Las Vegas over 50 times, and I usually go there for the food. The Chef Truck is a great place to grab a quick bite, and Lago has great views. Giada's is one of my favorite places to eat in Vegas, and I love splurging at Ocean Prime. Some people go to Vegas to gamble; I go to eat. After visiting Las Vegas over 50 times, my husband and I have a dining strategy: We return to a few of our favorite spots and then try a couple of new ones. Here are some of my favorite restaurants on The Strip. The Chef Truck is the perfect spot for delicious Cuban food at reasonable prices As a fan of the movie "The Chef," I knew I had to try The Chef Truck, a bright-yellow food truck parked inside the Park MGM. The truck serves Cuban-inspired food and is a collaboration between celebrity chef Roy Choi and actor/director Jon Favreau that opened in late 2023. I suggest starting with a warm sandwich, like the Cubano, and ending with the chocolate lava cake. The prices are reasonable — every dish is under $20 — and there's a small seating area nearby, making this the perfect lunch stop between gambling or shopping on The Strip. I'm a sucker for a restaurant with a view of the Bellagio Fountains —especially at night — so I often head to one of the restaurants in the Bellagio Hotel & Casino for a romantic dinner. Lago by Julian Serrano serves upscale Italian fare, my favorite cuisine. During our last visit there, we shared the delicious seafood linguine and prime rib with peppercorn sauce. Both were accompanied by a bottle of Chianti recommended by our server. Try to snag a table on the outdoor patio for the best possible views. You have a better chance of getting a spot if you reserve a table in advance. You can't go wrong with lunch or dinner at Giada's We first discovered GIADA shortly after it opened in 2014 in the Cromwell. We had reservations for lunch and liked it so much we returned that evening for dinner. Now, it's one of our regular dining spots. I always request a window table so we can enjoy the view of The Strip while dining. The Giada De Laurentiis -created restaurant serves upscale Italian food. If we're here for dinner, we share the bone-in ribeye topped with a sunny-side-up egg and pair it with one of the pastas. Ocean Prime is a splurge-worthy restaurant perfect for celebrating special occasions In 2023, Ocean Prime opened on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Harmon Avenue — it even has a rooftop terrace overlooking The Strip. The upscale restaurant chain is known for steak and seafood, and we dined here for our 32nd anniversary. We began with oysters and bubbly, moved on to scallops and martinis, and ended with warm butter cake. Everything was delicious, and Ocean Prime had excellent service. It's a splurge — most appetizers are $25 or more — but worth it for a special occasion. Catch is Instagram-worthy with seriously good brunch entrées and creative cocktails Catch is filled with beautiful decor and photo opportunities that make it obvious it was designed to be a place where visitors can take the perfect Instagram photo. At first, that made me doubt the quality of the food — but I've learned the food is even better than the decor. On a recent trip to Catch, I got the best French toast I've ever eaten. The French toast offerings vary by season, but the one I tried was filled with a delicious Meyer-lemon cream. We topped off our meal with a couple of cocktails with fun names like Lush Lemonade and Detox Retox. Bardot Brasserie offers a French-inspired brunch menu reminiscent of a Parisian café Another great brunch option on The Strip is Bardot Brasserie, located inside the Aria Resort & Casino. The decor is all dark wood and marble, which reminds me of cafés in Paris. On a recent visit, we started with deviled eggs topped with caviar and steak tartare — both were excellent. For entrées, I enjoyed the French omelet, and my husband got eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. Although both items were delicious, I was especially obsessed with Bardot Brasserie's version of hash browns. The small, crispy squares of layered potatoes were perfectly seasoned, putting any other hash browns to shame. The best New York slice in Las Vegas can be found at Secret Pizza I'm not even sure the official name of this place is Secret Pizza because there's no signage at the entrance, and it doesn't appear on the website of the Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino where it's located. What I do know is that this is great New York-style pizza, and we never go to Vegas without stopping here for lunch. To find this place, head to the third level of the Boulevard Tower of the Cosmopolitan and look for a long hallway next to Jaleo. The line can get long, so come with patience. You can order a slice or a whole pie. There's limited seating insid,e so we usually take our pizza and beer to the communal seating areas nearby. Mon Ami Gabi has long been my go-to spot for lunch with a view We've been eating at Mon Ami Gabi for over 20 years, mostly for lunch. Located inside Paris Las Vegas, the French eatery has a patio directly across the street from the Bellagio Fountains. We love to sit and watch the fountain show while we eat. Showtimes vary, so I usually check them and make our dining reservations accordingly. The food is French bistro fare featuring entrées like steak au poivre and trout almondine. We always start with a baguette and a starter, such as the chicken-liver-mousse páté, and complete our meal with glasses of wine or classic cocktails. This story was originally published on May 6, 2024, and most recently updated on June 27, 2025.
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Chicago Tribune
The best that Bezos' money can buy: The billionaire's Venice wedding to Lauren Sánchez causes a stir
VENICE, Italy — The sky itself is no limit for billionaire Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sánchez, who have traveled into space — and expectations are just about as high for their wedding in Venice. One of the world's most enchanting cities as backdrop? Check. Star-studded guestlist and tabloid buzz? Of course. Local flavor? You bet. Beyond that, the team of the world's fourth-richest man has kept details under wraps. Still, whispers point to events spread across the Italian lagoon city, adding complexity to what would have been a massive logistical undertaking even on dry land. Dozens of private jets touched down at Venice's airport, and yachts pulled into the city's famed waterways. Aboard were athletes, celebrities, influencers and business leaders, converging to revel in extravagance that is as much a testament to the couple's love as to their extraordinary wealth. The heady hoopla recalled the 2014 wedding in Venice of actor George Clooney to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, when adoring crowds lined the canals and hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside City Hall. Not so for these nuptials, which have become a lightning rod for protests. Still, any desire to dampen the prevailing fever pitch has yet to materialize. Instead, the glitterati were set to party, and the paparazzi jostling for glimpses of the gilded gala. Whatever happens, it will be a wedding for the ages. Venice is famed for its network of canals, where gondoliers croon for lovestruck couples and even ambulances are aquatic. But water transport of everything from bouquets to guests makes Venice among the world's most challenging cities for a party, according to Jack Ezon, CEO of luxury travel advisory and event planner Embark Beyond. 'It's a very tight-knit community; everyone there knows everyone, and you need to work with the right people,' said Ezon, whose company has put on a dozen high-end events in Venice. 'There's very tight control, especially on movement there with boats.' It at least triples the cost versus staging the same soiree in Rome or Florence, he said. Veneto Gov. Luca Zaia was first to give an estimated tally for the Bezos/Sánchez bash: He told reporters this week the most recent total he saw was between 40 million and 48 million euros (up to $56 million). It's an eye-popping, jaw-dropping figure that's over 1,000 times the $36,000 average cost of American couples' weddings in 2025, according to wedding planning website Zola's annual report. Bezos' team has been tight-lipped about where these millions are going. When the youngest son of Asia's richest man married last July, performances by pop stars Rihanna and Justin Bieber pushed up the price tag. 'How do you spend $40 million on a three- or four-day event?' Ezon said. 'You could bring headliners, A-list performers, great DJs from anywhere in the world. You could spend $2 million on an incredible glass tent that's only there for 10 hours, but it takes a month to build,' or expand the celebration to local landmarks. There's no sign Sánchez and Bezos, the former CEO of Amazon, intend to take over any of Venice's tourist-thronged hotspots. Still, intense hand-wringing about the prospect prompted their wedding coordinator, Lanza & Baucina, to issue a rare statement calling those rumors false. On Thursday, a string of water taxis cut through the lagoon to bring Bezos, Sánchez and guests to the Madonna dell'Orto cloister as some onlookers cheered. Paparazzi followed in their own boats, trying to capture guests on camera — Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Ivanka Trump, Tom Brady, Orlando Bloom — as police on jet skis patrolled. On Friday afternoon, Sánchez emerged from her hotel wearing a silk scarf on her head and blew a kiss to journalists before stepping into her water taxi. It carried her through the canals to San Giorgio island, across the lagoon basin from St. Mark's Square, where the couple is expected to hold a ceremony later in the day. Associated Press journalists circling the island earlier saw private security personnel stationed at every landing point, including its newly installed dock. Local media have also reported a reception Saturday in the Arsenale, a former navy base best known as a primary venue for the Venice Biennale. There are some who say these two should not be wed in this city. They characterize the wedding as a decadent display of wealth in a world with growing inequality, and argue it's a shining example of tourism taking precedence over residents' needs, particularly affordable housing and essential services. Venice is also one of the cities most vulnerable to rising sea levels from climate change. 'Venice is not just a pretty picture, a pretty postcard to please the needs and wants of the elite or of mass tourists, but it is an alive city, made of people who want to actually live there,' Stella Faye, a university researcher from Venice, said on Friday. About a dozen Venetian organizations — including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups — are protesting under the banner 'No Space for Bezos,' a play on words referring to his space exploration company Blue Origin and the bride's recent space flight. Greenpeace unfurled a banner in St. Mark's Square denouncing Bezos for paying insufficient taxes. Activists floated a bald-headed Bezos-inspired mannequin down Venice's Grand Canal atop an Amazon delivery box, its hands clenching fake cash. Authorities — from Venice's mayor to the nation's tourism minister — have dismissed the outcry, saying it ignores the visibility and economic boost the wedding brings. 'There will be photos everywhere, social media will go wild over the bride's dress, over the ceremony,' Italy's tourism minister, Daniela Santanchè, told the AP. 'All of this translates into a massive free publicity campaign. In fact, because they will spend a lot of money, they will enrich Venice — our shopkeepers, artisans, restauranteurs, hotels. So it's a great opportunity both for spending and for promoting Italy in the world.' As Amazon's CEO, Bezos usually avoided the limelight, frequently delegating announcements and business updates to his executives. Today he has a net worth of $231 billion, according to Forbes. In 2019, he announced he was divorcing his first wife, MacKenzie Scott, just before the National Enquirer published a story about an affair with Sánchez, a former TV news anchor. Sánchez filed for divorce the day after Bezos' divorce was finalized. He stepped down as CEO in 2021, saying he wished to spend more time on side projects, including Blue Origin, The Washington Post, which he owns, and his philanthropic initiatives. Sitting beside Sánchez during an interview with CNN in 2022, he announced plans to give away the majority of his wealth during his lifetime. Last week, a Venetian environmental research association issued a statement saying Bezos' Earth Fund was supporting its work with an 'important donation.' CORILA, which seeks protection of the Venetian lagoon system, said contact began in April, well before any protests.
