VENICE: US Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta arrived in the lagoon of Venice aboard his superyacht on Friday, drawing protests against President Donald Trump’s policies and increased security as the city prepared for one of its most important festivals.
Fertitta, a billionaire businessman appointed by Trump, is touring the Italian peninsula aboard his 117-metre yacht, Boardwalk, on a “Freedom 250 coastal diplomacy tour” marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.
Escorted by a tugboat, the gleaming white yacht slowly berthed at Riva dei Sette Martiri, a broad waterfront promenade about a kilometre from St Mark’s Square. Authorities have tightened security amid concerns over planned demonstrations, set to overlap with the Festa del Redentore.
The ancient celebration commemorates the end of a plague epidemic and will draw thousands of residents and visitors to the lagoon on Saturday for fireworks and religious ceremonies.
Residents of the fragile city have long complained about the impact of mass tourism and Venice’s growing use as a backdrop for high-profile events such as the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez in June last year.
