I'm sure "dump" is not the right word as that implies dirty, run down and filled with trash.

But there's no question Venice is a prime example of the downsides of mass market tourism. The whole area around St. Mark's Square was already filled with tourist shops selling tat and vastly overpriced mediocre coffee bars 20 years ago but you could venture a bit further afield and see a more normal and less crowded Venice. But apparently that's no longer the case.

I'm sure there's still a lot of charm to Venice but you now need to be more pragmatic about what to expect and approach the city differently.

I remember hearing this from the mid 80s and 90s as well, but more complaining it was crowded, overpriced, and smelled bad. It always seemed like it was everyone’s least favorite spot in Italy.

And watch out for con artists and pick pockets.

It used to be regular people lived and worked in Venice. Then tourism and accommodations became lucrative so the entire economy is just focused on tourism. It's a tourist place with the only "real" Italians there working in tourism.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:tourism killed the charm, as it does every where once a location becomes a destination.

I had my honeymoon in St Lucia back in 97. nice cutsie island, was a popular destination for Brits. but not overrun.

went back 10 years later for an anniversary, and it was completely different. I'll probably go back on my 25th just for the sake of it. but Yeah tourism really kills an area.

Never been, so what does this mean? Do tourist make the area dirty?

OP here - when I went there in the 80s and 90s it had all kinds of stores. now 85% of stores betweeen st Marco and rialto sell identical crap (the rest are luxury stores). not a single bookstore or real gallery or a toy or kid clothing store. nothing for pets, or sports of any kind. few makeup stores.

also, if you don’t want a lunch there is nowhere it sit except for a few cafes at st Marco.

I heard Verona is an alternative.. similar to Venice but not at overrun with tourists. Anyone been there? DW wants to go to Italy next year.

I couldn't agree more -- so dumpy! We went last summer and only spent 24 hours there before moving on to the beautiful, crowd-free Dolomites.

Anonymous wrote:tourism killed the charm, as it does every where once a location becomes a destination.

I had my honeymoon in St Lucia back in 97. nice cutsie island, was a popular destination for Brits. but not overrun.

went back 10 years later for an anniversary, and it was completely different. I'll probably go back on my 25th just for the sake of it. but Yeah tourism really kills an area.

Never been, so what does this mean? Do tourist make the area dirty?

I wasn't impressed in the early 90s. I think it's reputation has always been overblown.

We stayed here and loved it: http://www.accorhotels.com/lien_externe.svlt?goto=fiche_hotel&code_hotel=1313&merchantid=seo-maps-IT-1313&sourceid=aw-cen

But...I can’t take more than a day or so there. Not bc it’s a dump but it’s very similar and a day or so is fine.

tourism killed the charm, as it does every where once a location becomes a destination.

I had my honeymoon in St Lucia back in 97. nice cutsie island, was a popular destination for Brits. but not overrun.

went back 10 years later for an anniversary, and it was completely different. I'll probably go back on my 25th just for the sake of it. but Yeah tourism really kills an area.

I was there last summer for the first time, and I was incredibly disappointed. It long had been one of the cities I'd most like to see, and it had nothing of the magic and intrigue I'd read about for decades.

That said, we were there for the Festa del Redentore, which was awesome. Truly spectacular fireworks, and a fabulously festive atmosphere. Plus, you can walk across a temporary pedestrian bridge to Giudecca - the only time all year that's possible.

I was there in 2006, high season and was not impressed.

I went back in 2000 and liked it but funny enough someone I follow on IG is there and said the same thing- she’s not impressed overall and her accommodations are lacking. I wonder what happened?

I am in my 40s. I visited Venice several times in my youth and it was always awe aspiring, authentic place. Yes full of tourists for sure but the life still went on .

I was there yesterday and it’s a shadow of the city I remember. Covered in cheap junk from Chine and very unwelcoming. What happened? Is it me or is it the city?