A bridge too far? New Venice mayor defends US ambassador superyacht road trip along Italy coastline

From the show

François Picard is pleased to welcome Venice's new mayor, Simone Venturini, just one month into office, He offers a unique governing philosophy rooted in balancing contradictions rather than embracing absolutes. His central argument is that Venice cannot be understood merely as an open-air museum threatened by mass tourism, nor simply as a global cultural icon. Instead, he portrays it as a living, breathing city that must simultaneously preserve its fragile heritage, remain open to international exchange, and reinvent its economic future.

Mayor Venturini rejects symbolic politics in favour of pragmatic governance. Whether discussing Russia's participation in the Venice Biennale, controversial tourist access fees, or the arrival of billionaire superyachts, he argues that public debate often focuses on emotionally charged symbols while overlooking practical realities and long-term structural challenges. His broader vision is of Venice as a laboratory for managing overtourism, a diplomatic bridge between East and West, and an emerging centre for technology and innovation.