Lorenzo Macchi
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Italy
Venice - statistics & facts
Ranking among the largest Italian cities, Venice is one of the major centers of the Veneto region, in the north-east of the country. Located on 118 islands in the middle of the Venetian lagoon, it represents one of the most renowned global and European travel destinations. Thanks to millennia of history and its unique landscape, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The municipality's territory is constituted by the two main areas of Venice historical center and Mestre, the mainland, in addition to smaller villages located in the estuary, where the lagoon meets the Adriatic Sea. For around 1,100 years, Venice was the capital of the Republic of Venice (Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia), a sovereign state able to extend its political and commercial dominion from the north-eastern Italian peninsula to the western Balkan coast and the eastern Mediterranean.
The Serenissima annexed Istria and Dalmatia in the 11th century, followed by the coasts of Montenegro and Albania, the Ionian islands, Cyprus and Crete. These overseas territories constituted the Stato da Mar, which included some commercial hubs in the Black Sea, in Constantinople, and in the Middle East, too. Moreover, on the Italian mainland, it seized Veneto, Friuli, and eastern Lombardy, which comprised the Stato da Tera, the most populous territory of the Republic. As a capital of a large empire, Venice grew in residents, recording 170,000 inhabitants in the 1570s, and was one of the majors centers of the Italian Renaissance, sponsored by the wealthy oligarchy of merchants. However, from the 18th century, the Serenissima started to lose its influence confronted with other European colonial powers, and, in 1796, it capitulated to Napoleon, who turned it over to Austria. In 1866, Venice finally joined the Kingdom of Italy.
Growth and decline of a maritime and commercial superpower
The Venetian Republic was founded in the late 7th century. Between the 9th and the 10th century, the state expanded its commercial routes in the Adriatic Sea and in the eastern Mediterranean, thanks to trade agreements with the Byzantine Empire and the Arab states. These were the roots of a large mercantile and territorial dominance, which made the Serenissima a superpower of the European Middle Ages. Venice secured the control of the import of exotic goods from Asia and established many diplomatic ties with the Mongol dynasty governing the Chinese empire thanks to Marco Polo. The explorer travelled to China in 1271 and resided at Kublai Khan’s court until 1295. Polo introduced some Western customs to the Mongols and learned local practices, such as the use of banknotes, which were unknown in Europe, while his book The Travel offers an account of the habits and culture of the peoples of the Far East.The Serenissima annexed Istria and Dalmatia in the 11th century, followed by the coasts of Montenegro and Albania, the Ionian islands, Cyprus and Crete. These overseas territories constituted the Stato da Mar, which included some commercial hubs in the Black Sea, in Constantinople, and in the Middle East, too. Moreover, on the Italian mainland, it seized Veneto, Friuli, and eastern Lombardy, which comprised the Stato da Tera, the most populous territory of the Republic. As a capital of a large empire, Venice grew in residents, recording 170,000 inhabitants in the 1570s, and was one of the majors centers of the Italian Renaissance, sponsored by the wealthy oligarchy of merchants. However, from the 18th century, the Serenissima started to lose its influence confronted with other European colonial powers, and, in 1796, it capitulated to Napoleon, who turned it over to Austria. In 1866, Venice finally joined the Kingdom of Italy.
Tourism: a resource or a danger?
Honoring its distinguished past, Venice is the second most visited Italian city after Rome. The city attracts millions of international tourists every year, mostly from the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. The San Marco square, with its iconic bell tower and the Basilica, is the heart of the historical center and the symbol of the city. Nearby, the Doge’s Palace proves the prominence of the Venetian political power, as for centuries, it has been the seat of the Doge, the Republic’s leader, and of numerous city assemblies. The Rialto bridge, crossing the Grand Canal, and the Arsenal, are among the municipality’s major landmarks. However, given its geographic peculiarity, Venice is a fragile environment, threatened by overtourism. In fact, in 2019, it was the second city with the highest number of tourists per inhabitant in Europe. As a result, the lagoon city is overcrowded and environmental pollution has risen. For avoiding these negative externalities, a ban on cruise ships was enacted in 2021, and from 2024 daily visitors must purchase an entrance ticket. Despite these measures, an alarming depopulation is still ongoing, as more and more residents are leaving the historical center and moving to the mainland to avoid the pressure of tourism.More visitors than residents
In the 1950s, around 175,000 people were living in Venice's historical center. Since then, a substantial decline started in favor of the mainland, and the lagoon city lost 125,000 inhabitants in about 70 years. Compared to the 176,000 citizens of Mestre, less than 50,000 Venetians resided on the 118 islands in 2023. However, in the same year, 5.6 million tourists visited the center, causing a problematic disproportion with native residents. Aging population represents a further problem facing Venice. In fact, almost 30 percent of the residents are 65 years or older, while the youngest generations are below ten percent. On the contrary, the number of foreign residents has recorded a continuous growth since 2000, constituting around 16 percent of the total inhabitants of the municipality.
