Italian governmental committee decided that water taxis and gondolas will never again have to vie with large cruise ships for space in front of Venice’s St Mark’s Square.
Under the new rules, that follow a temporary limit imposed 3 years ago, ships that weigh 100,000 tonnes or more will now take a less glamorous route to Marghera's industrial port, far from Grand Canal.
Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro hailed the new plan as answering the requirements of Venice residents, lucrative tourism business, as well as conservation groups who raised the alarm about damage to the canals and port's shallow lagoon.
Work has to be done on the new route, that will open within 4 years, according to infrastructure and transport minister Graziano Delrio.
Ships weighing over 96,000 tonnes were banned from Giudecca canal in 2013, and the number of smaller vessels using the waterway was limited to 5 per day. However, at the end of 2015 that legislation was overturned.