Poveglia Island: A Last Stand for Venice Residents

In a bid to reclaim and revitalize the Venetian island of Poveglia, a local association, Poveglia for Everyone, has won a six-year renewable lease to manage the wildest section of the island. The association, backed by 40 local groups, aims to transform the island into a haven for people seeking a rare touch of wildness, amidst a city increasingly dominated by tourists and luxury developments. The effort is a response to the alarming pace of gentrification in Venice, where real estate is being snapped up by conglomerates, foundations, and the ultrarich, pushing locals to the mainland.

Key Takeaways:

• The Poveglia for Everyone association won a six-year renewable lease to manage the wildest section of the island, a 15-minute boat ride from the historic center of Venice.
• The association aims to transform the island into a haven for people seeking a rare touch of wildness, amidst a city increasingly dominated by tourists and luxury developments.
• The group plans to build a dock, host rowing lessons, and encourage people to visit the island for picnics, without adding benches or infrastructure that might harm the island's pristine environment.
• Patrizia Veclani, a member of the association, explained that the effort is a response to the alarming pace of gentrification in Venice, where real estate is being snapped up by conglomerates, foundations, and the ultrarich, pushing locals to the mainland.
• The association has grander plans, including renovating the crumbling geriatric hospital and centuries-old church steeple, but requires more funds for these projects.
• The group is being closely watched by researchers from the University of Verona, who want to track the social, environmental, and economic impact of regeneration projects involving state property managed by local organizations.

Statistics:

• An estimated 450,000 euros were raised by the association in less than a month to stop the development of Poveglia into a luxury resort.
• The bid for the 99-year lease fell short of what the state property agency considered to be a fair price.
• Poveglia is a 15-minute boat ride from the historic center of Venice, depending on the starting point and speed of the boat.
• The island is currently uninhabited, with no running water or electricity, and is populated only by brambles, invasive species like ivy and Ailanthus trees, and wildlife such as butterflies, birds, and rabbits.

Sources:

• The New York Times article, "Venice’s Struggles Are Felt on a Haunted Island," (no publication date or timestamp)
• Alberto Toso Fei, author of books on Venetian ghost tales
• Patrizia Veclani, a member of the Poveglia for Everyone association
• Fabio Boscolo, a member of the Poveglia for Everyone association
• Fabrizia Zamarchi, the president of Poveglia for Everyone
• Maura Orlandini, a member of the Poveglia for Everyone association
• Sandro Caparelli, a member of the citizen's group and boat chauffeur for the day
• Photographs by Chiara Negrello for The New York Times