how italy and italians described in Death in Venice ?

I think overall they are portrayed in a stereotypical and negative light. Venice is portrayed as a place of illusion, seduction, corruption and lies. These are expressed through characters like the barber at the hotel who tries to persuade Aschenbach to "artificially enhance" himself to make him look more "truthful". The gondola man is a known criminal and swindler. Even the government officials are corrupt insisting that the bactericide is being sprayed merely as a precaution. The characters often seem extreme in their negative portrayal like the boat men who take Aschenbach to Venice. They are clearly bad individuals with no redeeming qualities.