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I had the same question. I visited Venice years ago, and though I definitely think the place deserves to be on people's bucket list (it's beautiful, an engineer
by hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
I had the same question. I visited Venice years ago, and though I definitely think the place deserves to be on people's bucket list (it's beautiful, an engineering marvel, and I kept thinking to myself "How can this place still exist?"), but it still felt like "adult Disneyland" - more a museum almost than a place to live.
Genuinely curious about what life is like living there, and what the draw would be to move there.
- troad 3y agoThere's many different kinds of experience to be had in Venice. If someone comes as part of a tour group, and their Italian is limited to 'grat-see', then yeah, they're 100% going to have a particular kind of experience (for which "adult Disneyland" is a great label). The stretch between the Rialto and Piazza San Marco, inclusive, is 100% for tourists. Some other stretches are heavily touristy too these days - the seaside walk between Piazza San Marco and Arsenale, the isles of Burano & Murano, etc. This is really no different from a place like Prague, where the historic heart is also 100% for tourists. There's other places in Venice though - quieter parts, less touristy streets. You see fewer selfie sticks and more people with grocery bags, you see lawyers' offices and dentists, you see cafés selling coffees for more reasonable prices, etc. I would imagine that there would be beautiful charm to living off the beaten path in Venice, strolling along the canals every time you want to go for walk. If you're someone who greatly values beauty, paying Venice's cost of living premium in exchange for that privilege might feel like a good deal.
- LightBug1 3y ago100%. All it takes is the ability to use one's legs ...