by In Trieste
The Italian government has issued a decree banning cruise ships from the Venice lagoon, with effect from 1 August, after coming under pressure to act from the United Nations cultural organisation UNESCO.
The ban, announced by culture minister Dario Franceschini last week, will see ships weighing more than 25,000 tons banned from the Giudecca Canal that leads past St Mark’s Square.
The move, which appears to be definitive this time, follows years of debate between the tourism industry and local residents opposed to giant cruise liners which they say threaten the city’s fragile ecosystem.
The ban of cruise ships from Venice means more will depart from our city of Trieste. MSC Cruises and Costa Crociere both announced in recent days that their Mediterranean cruises will now depart from Genoa and Trieste instead of Venice.
