- Hundreds protested in Venice over the arrival of Tilman Fertitta’s luxury yacht
- Demonstrators accused billionaires of threatening the city’s environment and lifestyle
- Police clashed with protesters during the Redentore Festival gathering
Protests erupted in Venice on Friday as demonstrators clashed with riot police over the arrival of a luxury yacht belonging to United States Ambassador to Italy, Tilman Fertitta, during the city’s annual Redentore Festival.
Eko Hot Blog gathered the police said about 300 protesters took part in the demonstration, which was triggered by the docking of Fertitta’s 117-metre superyacht, Boardwalk, reportedly valued at about $450 million.
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Fertitta, a businessman and supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, has been touring Italy aboard the yacht with his family and staff as part of what he describes as a “coastal diplomacy” campaign marking America’s 250th anniversary.
Demonstrators gathered with banners reading “Venice is not for sale” while chanting slogans against Trump and his administration. Some protesters attempted to move closer to the vessel but were stopped by riot police, leading to brief confrontations. Others threw inflatable toys toward officers and used loudspeakers to voice their opposition.
Daniele Giordano, secretary of the CGIL labour union in Venice, criticised the ambassador’s visit, arguing that the presence of such an extravagant yacht during the city’s historic festival contradicted the principles of environmental protection and social responsibility.
One protester, Emanuele Lepore, said residents were fighting to protect Venice from being transformed into a destination that primarily serves billionaires while ordinary people continue to struggle with housing shortages, declining public services and the loss of community spaces.
Fertitta, whose wealth is estimated by Forbes at nearly $11 billion, owns casinos, restaurants and professional sports teams in the United States. He has said he is personally covering the costs of the voyage for his family and invited guests.
Neither the U.S. Embassy nor Italian authorities have disclosed how much public money has been spent on the security arrangements required for the ambassador and his entourage during the trip.
The itinerary includes visits to 13 Italian ports, where Fertitta is expected to meet business executives, community leaders and American citizens aboard the yacht, with enhanced security provided at each stop.
The demonstration mirrored protests held last year against the lavish Venice wedding celebrations of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, reflecting growing opposition to luxury tourism and the influence of ultra-wealthy visitors in the historic city.
Residents were also angered because the massive yacht occupied part of the waterfront normally used by spectators to watch the famous Redentore fireworks display, one of Venice’s most cherished annual traditions commemorating the end of the devastating plague of 1576.
While the U.S. Embassy has not commented on the protests, Italy’s Foreign Ministry maintained that the ambassador’s “coastal diplomacy” initiative remained on course despite the public backlash.
The visit comes at a time of reported diplomatic tensions between President Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, following recent remarks made by the U.S. president regarding their interaction at the G7 summit.
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