Autenticità e artigianato in una destinazione caratterizzata da overtourism: una questione di “equilibrismi”

This article explores the theme of authenticity in craft work within overtourism contexts, with a particular focus on Venice. Based on the dual perspective of craft as both a site for tourists' pursuit of authenticity and for producers’ construction of meaning, the study investigates how crafters balance artistic identity with tourist-driven commercial needs. Through a qualitative comparative analysis of three craft workshops, three main strategies emerge to address the tension between authenticity and commercialization. The findings enhance tourism authenticity studies and contribute to understanding craft as a form of entrepreneurship in extreme contexts such as overtourism.