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Protest against cruise ship in Venice (June 2021)
Photo: Giacomo Cosua / imago images / NurPhoto
The pros and cons of great crusaders have been debated in Venice for years.
Now there is a decision: From August 1st, large cruise ships will no longer be allowed to enter the lagoon city.
Infrastructure Minister Enrico Giovannini announced this on Tuesday after a cabinet meeting.
It is a "necessary step to protect the environment, the landscape and the artistic and cultural integrity of Venice," said Giovannini.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi spoke of an "important step in the preservation of the Venice Lagoon".
In the future, cruise ships weighing more than 25,000 tons, more than 180 meters in length or more than 35 meters in height will call at the industrial port of Marghera.
However, this is only a temporary solution, at the same time the port of Venice is looking for a permanent mooring for the future.
Smaller cruise ships should still be allowed to dock in the city center.
The debate flared up again after the cruise ships returned at the beginning of June after a long break caused by the corona.
Before the pandemic, millions of visitors flocked to the lagoon city on cruise ships every year.
Waves caused by the huge ships damage the foundations of the world heritage city and threaten the delicate ecological balance in the lagoon.
The ships that sail extremely close along the coast also pose a threat to other ships. At the end of June, the United Nations cultural organization Unesco proposed putting Venice on the Red List of World Heritage in Danger.
Appeal from Mick Jagger and Tilda Swinton
In early June, international artists such as Mick Jagger, Wes Anderson and Tilda Swinton wrote an open letter to Draghi and Italian President Sergio Mattarella to ban cruise ships in Venice completely.
In the letter they also called for better management of tourist flows, the protection of the lagoon's ecosystem and the fight against property speculation in order to preserve "the physical integrity, but also the cultural identity" of the city.
jok / AFP
