Venetians want controls on the tourism they blame for reducing the population. “By splitting from the mainland we would be masters of our destiny,” one claimed

Venetians have won a court battle to hold a referendum next month on whether their islands should have their own mayor and gain autonomy from mainland Italy, which activists claim will save the lagoon city from devastating tourism.

Venice and its larger mainland neighbour, Mestre, have been run by the same mayor and council since they were linked in 1926 by Mussolini, and activists maintain that Venice’s plight is being neglected as it is overrun by 20 million tourists a year.

“Only a mayor totally focused on this city can save it from over-tourism and consequent depopulation,” said Jane da Mosto, a British environmental scientist who has lived in Venice for 25 years and co-founded the “We Are Here Venice” group.

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