Living in Venice

It is early morning
in Venice.

Before the light of the sun fills
the famous Piazza San Marco,

the traders of Venice are
getting ready for the crowds of tourists.

In a few hours, thousands
of people will come to this square.

But for now, the people of Venice
have the city to themselves.

Market traders
welcome the first visitors.

'Signori, buon giorno.'
'Prego.'

Early morning is the best time
for shopping in the outdoor markets.

We have many,
many kinds of fish.

This is the part of Venice that
most visitors never see.

This is the Venice that
some people call home.

Resident Fabrizio Copano says that
he lives in the most beautiful city in the world.

It's a city that's clean and easy
to live in, with a high quality of life.

But for some people,
Venice has disadvantages, too.

My son, he doesn't love,
uh, live in Venice. I am very sorry.

The population of Venice
is getting increasingly older.

Why? Fabrizio says
living in Venice is not cheap.

Property is particularly
expensive,

and housing prices
have increased a lot in recent years.

It's especially difficult for young people
looking for their own place to live.

Many of them must move away,
leaving Venice to the tourists.

It seems like the whole world
has come here to the Piazza San Marco.

The tourists come
to experience a city

that feels like it's still
in the fifteenth century.

And some local people
say that's the problem.

Venice did change a lot when...
since I was born.

Giovanni dal Missier
is one of the younger people

trying to stay
in his home town.

During the day,
the huge crowds of visitors

can make just coming home
from work very difficult.

I get bored with the people,
with the tourists.

Because there are
too much, too many.

Jobs are another
problem.

Do you want to be a... a gondolier
or work with tourists?

If not, it can be difficult
to earn a living here.

But some say that
the young people leaving Venice

will soon find that other cities
are not so different.

Florence
is very expensive,

Rome is very expensive,
London, Paris, Vienna.

It has been said that anyone
who comes to Venice will fall in love...

even if it's only
with Venice itself.

Giovanni dal Missier
knows the feeling.

He says that despite
all the challenges here,

it's hard to think of
living anywhere else.

I know that
it's a very special gift that, for me,

for me, it's a gift
to live in a city as Venice.

Only a few people
get to enjoy living in Venice.

These days even fewer people are
ready to face the challenges of living here.

But, for those who stay,
it can be a wonderful experience.

Every day they can experience the joy
of falling in love with Venice all over again.