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At Home

At Home

Polly Coles on what 'home' and 'house' mean to various types of residents in Venice today.

The Essay · BBC Radio 3

January 17, 201516m 16s

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Show Notes

Writer Polly Coles reads At Home, the first of her essays about some of the ways in which Venetians and others have adapted to live in 21st-century Venice - one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Moving to Venice with her family for several years gave her a resident's view of a city she loves and despairs of in equal measure. Once the most cosmopolitan city in Europe, nowadays it seems little more than a stage-set for the tourist industry. But Venice will always be more than the most idealized city in the world.

In this essay, Polly looks at what home and house mean to different types of Venetian residents in modern day Venice. From the aristocrat in her Palazzo to the stowaway Moldovan in a broom cupboard, she wonders if anyone can survive in Venice without the tourist dollar.

Written and performed by Polly Coles Producer: Melanie Harris Sparklab Productions.