Book presentation: If Venice Dies by Salvatore Settis

Venetians are increasingly abandoning their hometown.

With only one resident for every 140 visitors, Venice’s fragile fate has become emblematic of the future of historic cities everywhere as it capitulates to tourism. Archaeologist and art historian Salvatore Settis describes how “hit-and-run” visitors are turning landmark urban settings into shopping malls and theme parks, and how mass tourism and global cultural homogenization is destroying what was once a great city.

Brief Bio

Salvatore Settis is an archaeologist and art historian and the former director of the Getty Research Institute of Los Angeles and the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa. He is chairman of the Louvre Museum's Scientific Council. Considered the conscience of Italy for his role in spotlighting its neglect of the national cultural heritage, Settis’s name has been mentioned frequently for the post of minister of culture and Italian president. He is the author of several books on art history as well as a regular contributor to major Italian newspapers and magazines.