Many among the dwindling tribe of residents of the city of Venice take great pride in calling themselves Venetians, inheritors of a proud legacy, stewards of traditions and of ways of life that exist only in La Serenissima. But who has a right to consider themselves Venetian?

Any past concepts limiting “real Venetians” to those born there or even those with families of three or more generations have by and large been cast away. The consensus today is that, “A Venetian is one who loves Venice,” says Venetian poet and author Isabella Panfido, echoing sentiments widely expressed.