Squatters occupy Venice homes in housing protest as tourism surges

Pasquale Ambrogio, 33, sits outside his illegally occupied apartment in the Casette neighbourhood during a lunch organized by squatters in Venice, Italy, April 3, 2019. Picture taken April 3, 2019. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

VENICE, Italy (Reuters) - Squatters are taking over unoccupied buildings in Venice in defiance of what they say are high rents forcing families out of the city as tourism takes over.

Venice's population has declined rapidly from roughly 175,000 after World War Two to about 50,000 today. Remaining residents complain that their city is being overrun by tourists while they have to pick up the bill for cleaning and security.