Cruise ships have become persona non grata in Venice.
Since August 1, ships over 25,000 gross tonnage or over 180 m in length have been prohibited from entering the Saint-Marc basin, the Saint-Marc canal and the canal de la Giudecca from the city of the Doges.
These giants of the seas will now have to moor in the industrial port of Marghera, located about ten kilometers from the center of Venice.
Smaller boats (around 200 passengers) will be able to continue to dock in the heart of the city.
A measure welcomed by the inhabitants of the city and the associations which have been calling for this ban for several years. "For us, it is a great victory", welcomes Tommasco Cacciari, activist of "No grandi Navi" ("No big ships"). But the decision is not unanimous because of the economic interests at stake. Cruises generate significant income for traders and the port of Venice: 400 million euros per year and 5,000 jobs depend on it.