Celebrity wedding: Venice before Bezos-Judge in the state of emergency

Venice in the state of emergency: In a city full of tourists, the celebrity wedding of the year began in a brooding heat. This Friday the US billionaire Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, and former TV presenter Lauren Sánchez want to say yes. For both it is the second marriage, they have seven children from previous relationships.

They celebrate with around 200 guests – especially from show business and business world. Out of concern for protests or an attack, everything takes place under strict security precautions.

Most venues in the Italian lagoon city have already been declared a restricted area. Around the monastery church of Madonna Dell’orto, where the first big party is on the program in the evening, neither gondolas nor other boats are allowed to drive. Later the alleys are also banned for pedestrians. Only the wedding party – and hundreds to staff is left through.

Celebrity wedding in the middle of 100,000 tourists

The 61 -year -old Bezos and his future wife (55) stay in the luxury hotel “Aman” on the Canal Grande, one of the most expensive hostels. Your 226 square meter suite with a view of the channel costs up to 16,000 euros per night. A tent was built up in front of the hotel. Nevertheless, boats full of tourists pass all day long. Now, in the high season, there are more than 100,000 visitors in the city during the day. At temperatures over 30 degrees everyone sweats.

The super -rich couple was rarely seen at first – but if, the two waved the paparazzi and the many other curious people friendly. In the meantime, a number of prominent guests have also arrived, including US President daughter Ivanka Trump, TV presenter Oprah Winfrey, actor Orlando Bloom as well as Kris Jenner and her daughters Kim and Khloé Kardashian.

Son of Star Tenor Andrea Bocelli should sing

According to media reports, the invitation list also includes Barbra Streisand, Leonardo DiCaprio and Elton John. Among other things, Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Eric Schmidt (Google) should be included from the business world. In addition, there is speculation about appearances by Lady Gaga, Mick Jagger and Matteo Bocelli, the son of the blind star tenor Andrea Bocelli. Officially, there is no confirmation on the part of the wedding couple.

The actual wedding is to take place on Friday on the island of San Giorgio, directly opposite the Markusplatz. The garden of a former Benedictine monastery has been sealed off there for days. The wedding couple and guests can be brought there with water taxis. Supposedly the couple reserved more than 30 boats.

A few weeks ago, reports had caused excitement in Venice, according to which Bezos booked the entire taxi fleet. However, the city denied.

Strict security precautions throughout the city

Strict security measures apply out of worry about attacks as a result of the war in the Middle East and also due to some announced protests. There is an unusually large number of police and military to be seen throughout the city. Sagitters should also be posted on some roofs. A drone ban also applies.

The cost of the wedding is estimated at at least $ ten million. It will probably become considerably more expensive. With a suspected assets of around $ 220 billion, this will not be very important for Bezos. The founder of the world’s largest online retailer Amazon, head of the Blue Origin space company and owner of the “Washington Post” is one of the richest men in the world.

Millions of donations for the city

Meanwhile, it was announced that the entrepreneur donates another two million euros to various facilities in Venice. So far, a donation of one million was known. Bezos and Sánchez also asked their guests to do without gifts and to give money for the renovation of Venice. The city earns very well on the many millions of vacationers who come every year. Mass tourism also makes it difficult for her.

Various groups have announced that they protest under the motto “No Space for Bezos” (“No room for Bezos”). You accuse Mayor Luigi Brugnaro to sell your city. Many posters against the billionaire can already be seen.

On Thursday there was a scramble between demonstrators and security forces on the Markusplatz. One of the plans of the wedding opponents is to spoil the party with inflatable plastic crocodiles in the channels.

Plastic crocodiles and inkfish stew

On Wednesday evening, Bezos and Sánchez took part in a luxury restaurant according to a report by the “La Repubblica” newspaper in a gala meal of the fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg with 50 other guests.

On the menu there was a stew with rare squid from the Venice lagoon. The kilo price for this is currently 260 euros in the markets.

The private jets now end up every hour at the Marco-Polo airport. More than 100 special flights are expected by Friday. In front of Venice’s world -famous backdrop, there are already several yachts worth many millions of euros. Bezos himself has so far refrained from having his own super yacht “Koru” entering Venice on the recommendation of the authorities. There is concern that the ship could be the goal of an attack or protests.