A ban on cruise ships entering the historic centre of Venice has been approved by the Italian government.
The decision to restrict cruise and container ships from the Giudecca canal was taken following a response from Unesco, the country’s culture minister said.
The subject of ships’ access to the centre of the city has been a topic of debate for many years, with critics claiming they add to pollution and erosion while those who rely on the sector for employment say alternative facilities must be provided to ensure they can continue to make calls.
Culture minister Dario Franceschini described the ban as “a correct decision, awaited for years”.
The BBC reported that the Italian government will hold a “call for ideas” for an alternative cruise terminal, with some lines already opting to use other nearby ports for access to the city.
Reuters reported the government as stating it wanted to “reconcile the needs to protect the artistic, cultural and environmental heritage of Venice and its lagoon with those related to cruise activity and goods traffic”.