Months after the extravagant nuptials of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former journalist Lauren Sánchez, Venice is experiencing a surprising tourism trend. Visitors are now eschewing classic landmarks in favour of locations linked to the billionaire's wedding and his famous guests.
The New Venetian Pilgrimage: From Palaces to Paparazzi Spots
For seasoned Venetian tour guide Igor Scomparin, client requests have undergone a dramatic shift. Gone are the days when St Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, or the Rialto Bridge topped the itinerary. Now, visitors, particularly from the United States, are eager to trace the footsteps of the wedding's glitterati.
"They want to see where the Bezoses got married and where the celebrities ended up," Scomparin explains. "They saw all the media attention and now they are curious to see what these places are really like." This new fascination stems from the five-day celebration in June last year, which the Italian press dubbed "the wedding of the century."
Mapping the Million-Euro Nuptials
A typical modern tour might begin on a street of designer boutiques frequented by guest Ivanka Trump. It then proceeds to the seven-star Aman Venice hotel, famed for its Tiepolo frescoes, where the couple stayed. "Prices start from about €3,500 a night for a basic room," Scomparin notes, a figure that intrigues more than shocks his clients.
The pilgrimage continues to key ceremony sites: San Giorgio island, where vows were finally exchanged, and the grand Scuola Grande della Misericordia, the original venue scuppered by protest threats. The Arsenale, a medieval shipyard that hosted the afterparty, is also a highlight. Demand is also high for rides on the specific wooden taxi boats used by stars like Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The 'Kardashian Jetty' and Lasting Economic Impact
Perhaps the most symbolic site is the unassuming wooden floating jetty outside the Gritti Palace hotel. To locals, it's a mundane stop, but to tourists, it's the now-famous 'Kardashian jetty', where Kim Kardashian was photographed disembarking. "Teenagers especially tell me they saw the photos on Instagram," says Scomparin. "But when they see it they are a little disappointed because it's just a regular, everyday jetty."
The wedding's economic footprint is undeniable. Estimates from Italy's tourism ministry suggest the event injected approximately €957.3 million into the local economy, driven largely by global media coverage. This commercial interest endures, with tourists snapping up wedding guest gifts like velvet Friuliane shoes and Murano glass 'goti de fornasa' drinking glasses.
While protests from anti-overtourism and climate activists made headlines, wedding photographer Michael Zennaro confirms the festivities proceeded smoothly. "It was an opportunity to show off Venice across the world," he states. Wedding planner Marigiulia Sella reports a surge in enquiries for high-end, multi-day Venetian weddings, citing the city's unique blend of historic venues and privacy.
As Scomparin guides visitors past these new landmarks, he shares Venetian history, including tales of a cursed, abandoned building. One mystery from the Bezos wedding, however, remains unsolved even for him: the fate of one of Lauren Sánchez's 27 designer dresses, reported missing after the celebrations. "That one," he admits, "is still a mystery."
