“The idea that the city should be seen as a set, a stage, or an amusement park has been highlighted like never before by Bezos’ wedding,” Tommaso Cacciari, a frontman for the No Space for Bezos movement, said.

A thousand protesters from social centres and environmental associations participated in the demonstration against the exploitation of the city and marched through the streets. Source: SIPA USA / Roberto Brancolini

In the final protest on Saturday (local time), around 1,000 residents and activists rallied in front of Venice’s train station under a scorching sun, before marching roughly 1.5 kilometres to the Rialto Bridge.

Venetian businesses and politicians, however, welcomed the event, hailing its major boost for the local economy. Luca Zaia, the regional governor of Veneto around Venice, said the city should be proud of hosting the wedding.

Protesters demand affordable housing, oppose overtourism

“I’d love Venice to be tailored for citizens, not for tourists, with affordable housing,” Bazzoli said, complaining that students were being priced out of the market, with the best accommodations offered to visitors.

The ‘Moa’ boat transporting Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos is escorted on the Grand Canal, on the third day of their wedding festivities. Source: AFP / Marco Bertorello

Andrea Segre, a 49-year-old Italian film director born in Venice, said the city was also pushing out ordinary residents.

The city has hosted scores of other VIP weddings, including that of actor George Clooney and human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in 2014, but the latest luxury nuptials have attracted far greater resentment because of Bezos’ corporate and political role.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez leave the Aman Hotel on the third day of their wedding festivities. Source: AFP / Marco Bertorello

The Amazon founder is the world’s fourth richest man, and has developed ties with US President Donald Trump, whose daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner were in attendance at the wedding.