Bezos and Sanchez arrive in Venice for their star-studded weekend wedding

Event, seen as a symbol of unchecked wealth, is drawing protestors

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Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez arrived in Venice, Italy, on Wednesday, ahead of their star-studded weekend wedding, which has galvanised an assortment of protesters.

Bezos waved from a water taxi as he and Sanchez arrived at the dock of the Aman Hotel on the Grand Canal with two security boats in tow.

Their wedding has drawn protests by groups who view it as a sign of the growing disparity between the haves and have-nots, while residents complain it exemplifies the way their needs are disregarded in the era of mass tourism to the historic lagoon city.

‘No Space for Bezos’

About a dozen Venetian organisations — including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups — have united to protest the multi-day event under the banner “No Space for Bezos,” a play on words also referring to the bride’s recent space flight.