Inside plans to transform derelict island for Venice residents

• Venetian activists from the group Poveglia per Tutti have received permission to transform part of the abandoned island of Poveglia into a public lagoon park.
• The park, set to open from 1 August, aims to provide a space for locals to escape the millions of tourists visiting Venice annually.
• This initiative is a response to overtourism in Venice, which has led to a decline in the city's resident population and strain on infrastructure.
• Poveglia, historically used as a quarantine site and later a mental hospital, has been abandoned since 1968.
• Poveglia per Tutti has secured €300,000 for the initial phase and plans further fundraising, partnering with the University of Verona to study the project's social impact.

IN FULL

Abandoned island in Venice to become a haven for locals seeking escape from tourism