L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2019 www.italoamericano.org 4 FRANCESCA BEZZONE NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS T h e d e a t h o f Ve n i c e : la Serenissima sinks in neglect T h e r e ' s s o m e t h i n g heart-wrenching in w i t n e s s i n g a r t , a r c h i t e c t u r e , beauty, being dama- ged and defiled. There's that dull ache at the pit of the stoma- ch, an ache that rises up and clenches its hands around your throat, making it hard to breath. It's like drowning, in a way, drowning like the place we've been observing with anguish for the past two weeks, Venezia. Venezia, La Serenissima, lost her peace and poise. She's been struggling for air, the marble and mosaics of San Marco ravaged by saline waters that entered the basilica like an illness, attacking also the depth of its crypts, a sea of salt and darkness. "There were waves in the square," they said, but what c o u l d y o u d o . W h a t c o u l d dozens of merchants do to save their activities from destruction, when the lagoon decided to turn its back to the city and betray her painfully, ravaging cafés and bars, stores and libraries, restau- rants and newsagents? There was one, Walter Mutti's chio- sco, in Dorsoduro's Fondamenta delle Zattere, that was special to many Venetians. Walter is one of them, Walter got his little green stand from his father who, before him, had also served with passion and love his people, sel- ling newspapers and dreams, offering smiles and a nice word, there and then, first thing in the morning. Walter's stand was destroyed by acqua alta, which took it away, offering it to the canal, just like a sacrificial vic- tim. Thankfully, generous souls of Venezia and Italy have been collecting money online to make sure the kiosk can open again, and it will, with 16.000 euro of the 20.000 needed already col- lected. Yes, because now that the emergency is over, it's time to dry our eyes, roll up our sleeves a n d s t a r t w o r k i n g t o b r i n g Venezia and her people back on their feet. Donators from all over the world are sending money, fund collections have been star- ted all over Italy, including one endorsed by La Farnesina, our ministry for foreign affairs. Here in the US, Italian Consulates l a u n c h e d t h e #AmericaLoveVenice hashtag, to collect donations in support of t h e c i t y . B e c a u s e w h e n i t ' s something this precious to be in danger, we all feel, as citizens of the world, it's our duty to chip in. But when Italy is involved, is Piazza San Marco is one of the lowest areas in Venice and one of the first being flooded when acqua alta hits People in Venice during the last acqua alta, two weeks ago Continued to page 6

• Cover