| Barely a third of Venice’s
total population (around 333,000) resides in the Historic Core.
The population of the island is steadily declining. In 1951, 175,000
people inhabited the island and in 1998 only 68,000 remained. The
population consists mostly of older Venetian natives and university
students. People, especially younger generations, are leaving the
island for several reasons. The limited amount of space
has pushed businesses, including the main newspaper and radio
and television stations to Mestre. Housing shortages
occur in certain districts where wealthy investors buy property
and remodel it into vacation homes. The lack of space also makes
it difficult to raise a family. Land is expensive and the cost
of living is 30% less in Mestre than on the island. The majority
of schools have relocated on the mainland and young couples are
choosing affordable living and education over the crowded Island
City. |
Escape
Destination: Mestre
(Storti)
|
