Italy bans large cruise ships from Venice

The restriction will come into effect at the beginning of August. Campaigners say the liners cause damage to Venice's ecosystem.

An image such as this will soon be a thing of the past in Venice, Italy.

Large cruise ships will be banned from entering the Venice lagoon as of August 1, the Italian government announced on July 13. It follows years of warnings they risk causing irreparable damage to Venice's ecosystem.

"The decree adopted today represents an important step for the protection of the Venetian lagoon system," Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said in a statement.

The move affects vessels longer than 180 meters (530 feet) or higher than 35 meters.

Venice and UNESCO concerns

The decision comes just days before UNESCO convenes over proposals to add Venice to its list of endangered heritage sites.

Venice was put on the prestigious list in 1987 after describing the city as an "extraordinary architectural masterpiece." But the U.N. body said last month the city needed a "more sustainable tourism management."

Venice's fragile ecosystem

Capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, Venice is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. Environmental activists say giant ships generate large waves that wreck Venice's foundations and cause severe damage to the lagoon's ecosystem. The city is without roads and its canals are lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces.

jsi/rt (AP, AFP, dpa)