The context of Venice is so unique that even in this first sentence a mistake is already made: Venice should never be separated from its Lagoon and islands, which once formed an interdependent ecological, social and economic system, vital to the city’s survival. They still do, but this system has changed deeply. Historically, the Lagoon provided essential resources, livelihoods, and hosted public functions. This close relationship fostered stewardship of the territory, resulting in the Lagoon being cared for and maintained as a vital resource. However, modernity has profoundly altered this dynamic. The loss of functions in the Lagoon has undermined the central role it once played in sustaining the city and is therefore no longer seen as valuable. As a result, it is often neglected by both communities and institutions. The most problematic consequence of this lack of consideration is that it facilitates the spread of destructive practices, leading to environmental degradation and socio-cultural erosion. A territory deprived of its historical, economic and social roles becomes increasingly vulnerable to dynamics of exploitation and abandonment. If this trajectory is not reversed, Venice, its Lagoon and its islands risk undergoing a definitive transformation: an emptied place, devoid of identity and life, increasingly losing its active population and facing irreversible ecological decline. In the past, active human presence, through traditional Lagoon-based livelihoods and functions, provided a natural form of protection. Today, a different approach is needed. This research explores how recognizing the Venice Lagoon as a subject of rights can open new paths for its protection. Through an interdisciplinary and spatially grounded approach, it investigates how a rights of nature framework can inform new legal imaginaries and spatial strategies, reactivating social and productive practices that contribute to a more livable and resilient future for Venice and its Lagoon.