Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said the ban was urgently adopted at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday and will take effect Aug. 1.
It applies to the lagoon basin near St. Mark’s Square and the Giudecca Canal, which is a major marine artery in Venice.
Before the coronavirus pandemic severely curtailed international travel, cruise ships discharging thousands of day-trippers overwhelmed Venice and its delicate marine environment.
Environmentalists and cultural heritage have battled for decades with business interests, since the cruise industry is a major source of revenue for the city.
The Italian government earlier this year had decided on a ban but without quickly setting a date for it to start.
The premier's office noted that permitted ships generally have about 200 passengers compared to the thousands that huge cruise vessels carry.
The Cabinet decree also establishes compensation mechanisms for navigation companies and others affected by the ban. »
