When the first cruise ship since the start of the pandemic sailed through the Venice lagoon last month, hundreds of people rallied on land and small boats in protest.

A few weeks later, Italy's government seemed to listen, announcing that to defend Venice's ecosystem and heritage, cruise liners would be banned from the lagoon from Aug. 1. The move ended years of political hesitation, apparently putting the demands of residents and culture bodies above those of port workers and the tourist industry.

"For us it's a big victory," Tommaso Cacciari, a member of the 'No Grandi Navi' (No Big Ships) campaign group, told Reuters. "Many compared us to David against Goliath."

But the battle may not be over.

- Reuters -