The president of the Venice Sustainability Foundation (VSF) appeared today in the newspaper La Stampa, offering a commentary on the historical and modern evolution of the city of Venice as a model of resilience and innovation. From the era of the Serenissima to the implementation of the Mose system, Venice has shown the world a successful way of coexisting between tradition and modernity.
With the Foundation’s support, the territory is now preparing to enter a new phase with perspectives linked to sustainability. A way of looking to the future with the awareness of facing the challenges posed by climate change.
Venice City of the Future
It is no coincidence that Venice has reappeared in national newspapers as the world, shaken by ancient wars and new catastrophes, questions the transition into the future, especially given undeniable climate changes.
Why not remember Venice’s millennial history, an “impossible” city built in a lagoon, an ecologically transitional environment, and for many centuries a model of culture, art, and innovation for the entire world?
Venice’s historical experience has always looked to the future, never to the past. This is reflected in Giandomenico Tiepolo’s painting “Mondo Novo” (1791), where characters are seen from behind, gazing toward something yet to be revealed.
Venice has consistently represented modernity and innovation. Even in the Middle Ages, Dante expresses his astonishment in Inferno, Canto XXI, at the Arsenal of Venice, which was the largest shipyard in Europe and organized like a precursor to a Ford factory.
Venice’s legacy is marked by modernity in technology and science, supported by enlightened governance. While any list of notable figures is inherently incomplete, one significant name is Galileo Galilei. In 1609, he tested his improved telescope in Venice, using glass lenses made
in Murano. This led to revolutionary discoveries about the cosmos, which he published in “Sidereus Nuncius” in 1610.
Books also played a crucial role in establishing Venice as a cultural capital in Europe. Following Gutenberg’s invention of movable type in 1455, the Republic of Venice authorized two young Germans in 1469 to practice the art of printing books (ars imprimendi libros). By 1500, Venice was producing half of Europe’s published books, thanks in part to Aldus Manutius. As the first modern publisher, he transformed the book into a significant cultural
and social medium, inventing italic type and standard punctuation as we know them today.
The modernity of Venetian governance is highlighted by the 1786 visit of some of the founding fathers of the American Constitution: Thomas Moore, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. They drew inspiration from the political structures and advanced legal system of the Serenissima while drafting the American Constitution. Notably, Franklin, who was also a scientist, left a lasting mark by installing the first lightning rod on St. Mark’s bell tower.
After the fall of the Republic in 1797, Venice entered a period of decline, which symbolically came to an end with the construction of the translagoon bridge in 1846. This bridge facilitated not only the arrival of trains but also the Industrial Revolution, leading to significant urban and economic transformations. Notably, Venice had an aqueduct and public lighting before Milan.
The second industrial revolution recognized Venice as a significant player, particularly with the establishment of Porto Marghera as Italy’s first industrial zone. This new port, along with a residential area, was inaugurated on July 23, 1917, by Prime Minister Paolo Boselli, accompanied by Mayor Filippo Grimani and Giuseppe Volpi, the president of the Adriatic Electricity Company (SADE), which was founded in 1905.
Since that time, the Marghera industrial hub has undergone significant development and transformation, driven by modernity and innovation. The initial manufacturing companies focused on heavy and basic industries. Key sectors include metallurgy—especially aluminum, semi-finished products made from ferrous alloys, and zinc—as well as the chemical sector, which produces a wide array of essential raw materials for various production processes. Furthermore, the “Volpian model” is not limited to industrial activities; in 1932, it expanded to include the Venice Film Festival at the Lido, marking the emergence of a new cultural industry for the century.
During the post-war period, the petrochemical sector experienced significant growth, largely due to new technological innovations. One notable product was “Moplen,” a durable and affordable material that gained widespread usage. This innovation stemmed from the discovery of isotactic polypropylene by Giulio Natta, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1963 for this achievement. By 1965, at the peak of the economic boom, Porto Marghera reached its highest employment level, with a total of 32,980 workers.
The Marghera hub, covering 2,109 hectares, is one of the largest coastal industrial zones in Europe, featuring extensive port areas and industrial facilities. Over the last century, the economic landscape has significantly changed; heavy industry has been replaced by sustainable light manufacturing and advanced logistics that support the entire Veneto region.
This hub now effectively utilizes the port, a vital factor in the successes of the Venetian Republic. Currently, more than 880 companies operate in Marghera, providing employment for over 11,000 people.
A new significant date for Venice is October 3, 2020, when the MOSE barriers were raised for the first time to protect the lagoon from seawater, preventing flooding in the city. This historic moment marked the operation of 78 gates, creating the world’s largest mobile dam, which spans 1.6 kilometers. Since that date, the barriers have been raised over 90 times.
The heartbreaking and dramatic image of a city brought low, struck at its most precious treasures, where movement and work were once impossible, is now in the past. Ongoing construction will eliminate any chance of capturing photos of St. Mark’s Square when it is flooded. Since November 2022, St. Mark’s Basilica has been protected by a glass barrier that prevents saltwater from damaging its marble, allowing significant restoration work to
commence.
The MOSE system, along with other supportive measures, has enhanced the protection of Venice, paving the way for a new phase in the city’s history. Venice can once again take on a central role similar to that it played in the first millennium, although this role will be renewed and different. It will function as part of a larger urban area that includes at least 15 additional municipalities, forming a metropolitan region with at least one million residents, which partially aligns with the Metropolitan City.
Venice’s historic significance is supported by the MOSE project, which tackles a crucial challenge that nearly all coastal cities face: rising sea levels. Thanks to this initiative, Venice is expected to be the safest coastal city in the world for the next hundred years!
This factual element puts an end to any debate regarding the decisions made by various governments of different political affiliations since 1973, the year the first Special Law for Venice was enacted. The MOSE project, born from the creativity of two generations of designers and the determination of an entire nation, does not permanently resolve all of Venice’s issues. However, it does provide time to research and implement solutions for the
remaining challenges.
Immediate solutions are needed to regenerate the socioeconomic life of historic Venice, which must redefine its role within the broader metropolitan urban area. These solutions should primarily focus on balancing the immense tourist attraction that historic Venice holds on a global scale.
Future challenges are significant, with the most pressing being the projected sea level rise of 50 cm compared to current levels. In 2022, the Venice Sustainability Foundation (VSF) was established for the specific purpose of addressing these challenges. I have been appointed by President Draghi to chair this foundation, alongside Vice Presidents: the Mayor of Venice, Brugnaro, and the President of the Veneto Region, Zaia.
The VSF embodies an innovative model of public-private partnership, bringing together a range of institutional actors, including the Municipality of Venice, the Veneto Region, universities, and public research organizations, as well as significant foundations, historical institutes, and large national and international companies.
With 47 members, the foundation is unified by a commitment to “sustainability” and a shared goal of acting for the future of Venice. I would like to share some concrete examples of our initiatives.
The VSF Foundation, along with its partners, conducts research in advanced sectors such as Space and Hydrogen, creating networking opportunities for industries in the Italian Northeast.
The finance sector is interested in developing new forms of sustainable investment and is collaborating with us to find concrete solutions, including green bonds.
A diverse mix of energy sources, increased use of hydrogen as an energy carrier, and the electrification of industrial and urban functions are essential for decarbonization. The current climate changes demand bold and swift actions. In Marghera, the Hydrogen Hub is expanding, supported by significant investments from the Municipality of Venice, which has acquired 90 hydrogen buses. Additionally, Eni will build one of Europe’s largest hydrogen refueling stations, complete with a production plant.
Recent controversies surrounding nuclear energy generation have surfaced in the press, often relying on arguments from the past. However, scientific and technological advancements have elevated the debate to a new level. In Marghera, mechanical components for magnets used in nuclear fusion machines are being produced, offering the potential for cleaner energy.
Just a few kilometers away in Padua, the CNR, ENEA, and the University are collaborating within the RFX Consortium to develop the ITER fusion prototype reactor. Our history teaches us valuable lessons; we learn from our mistakes, and it is clear that any project in Marghera will only proceed after ensuring safety and sustainability.
The ongoing transition in environmental and energy practices necessitates substantial cultural and scientific support; for this reason, Venice’s model of intelligence must be shared globally.
Recently, we met with representatives from UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre. A negative narrative regarding the city’s future, primarily aimed at stopping ongoing infrastructure construction, has sparked doubts and fears in recent years. This culminated in a UNESCO visit in January 2020, just two months after the devastating flood of November 12, 2019. At that time, Venice was a city wounded in both body and spirit.
As of October 3, 2020, the situation has completely changed. Venice will work together with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre to enhance the management of this site. The city aims to share its experiences with the world, demonstrating how it has successfully recovered by integrating modernity and innovation into the protection of its cultural and environmental heritage.
The measures implemented by the Municipality of Venice promote a quantitative and pragmatic approach to managing tourism flows. On average, the historic center of Venice receives about 230,000 visitors daily, with less than half of them being tourists. This highlights the important role that daytime Venice plays as an urban center.
Analyses conducted by the VFS Foundation are particularly valuable for all cities rich in art and history. These analyses will provide a solid foundation for measures aimed at mitigating the negative effects of World Heritage Site designation, which has contributed to overtourism in other locations as well.
In the Mediterranean region, over 40 World Heritage Sites are at risk due to rising sea levels.
The knowledge related to various adaptation and protection measures, including the MOSE project, is a valuable asset that should be shared. At COP29 in Baku, VSF will reaffirm this commitment and continue to engage through international networks, where our highly qualified experts are already active.
A noteworthy example of our efforts is the collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in the “Making Cities Resilient” campaign. Last year, Venice was designated as a “Resilience Hub,” being one of 30 cities selected from over 4,300 participants worldwide. This designation involves sharing knowledge and experiences to protect cultural heritage.
The great engineer Cristoforo Sabbadino, in the mid-1500s, identified the threats to Venice as “the rivers, the sea, and men.” Sabbadino, who “invented” the modern lagoon and saved it from inevitable silting, began the city’s defense by diverting rivers away from the lagoon.
Today, the MOSE project has successfully established defenses against the sea. Despite the ongoing challenges that Venice faces, the city is now experiencing a true Renaissance!
Venetian universities are attracting international researchers and students, with the “Venice Campus City” project aiming to double the population of students and researchers. The work of the VSF Foundation is closely connected with that of various existing and emerging entities and foundations in a vibrant network of cultural activities that has significantly expanded in Venice in recent years, surpassing the number of events held in Paris.
On one hand, the “historical” institutions, such as La Biennale, Fondazione Cini, La Fenice, the Civic Museums, Querini Stampalia, and the Guggenheim, have successfully renewed and expanded their spaces and offerings. On the other hand, they have recently been joined by
notable new foundations, including Pinault, Prada, Wilmotte, Vedova, Pentagram Stiftung, Berggruen, and others, each contributing rich and diverse cultural and artistic activities from around the world.
Returning to the aforementioned history, a “neo-Volpian” model is emerging in Venice’s new Renaissance, where contemporary cultural expressions are intertwined with advanced technology and industry. This fusion is attracting new talent and blending diverse experiences and ideas.
Until recently, the global focus was on saving a “Venice in peril.” Now, however, it is a “safe Venice” that aims to serve as a model for the world—a Venice that has successfully protected itself from the sea and is determined to manage the challenges of overtourism. In doing so, it works to renew and preserve its civitas (its people, culture, and human capital), having already achieved remarkable success in safeguarding its urbs (its monuments).
Venice: the oldest city of the future!
