Since last Sunday (1st), ships weighing more than 25 thousand tons, including cruise ships, have been prohibited from sailing through the historic center of Venice, a measure that prevented UNESCO from including the city on a list of “heritages at risk”.
The beginning of August marked the entry into force of the decree from Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government that established a temporary solution to prevent large vessels from crossing the San Marco Basin and the Giudecca Canal, in the heart of the capital of Veneto.
• Cases affected by the decree
• Delays at the town hall and consulate
• Customized legal strategy
Until last month, cruise ships docked at a passenger terminal next to the city's main train station, which produced striking images showing the contrast between the gigantism of these liners and the fragility of Venice's buildings.
However, large ships will now be directed to the commercial port of Marghera on the city's mainland on a provisional basis. Meanwhile, the government has already launched an international competition for ideas for a definitive solution to the problem, with the winner expected to be announced on June 30, 2023.
“It is a very important victory, which demonstrates how the strength of the community is capable of determining government choices and forcing giants such as cruise multinationals to submit to the rules”, says a message posted on Facebook by the No Grandi Navi Committee ( “no to big ships”), leader of the campaign to ban cruises in the center of Venice.
“Our battle does not stop and will continue until the ships, as we have always said, are out of the [Venice] lagoon,” the statement adds. (ANSA).
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