Up to 3000 locals braved heavy downpours to express their anger over frequent flooding and the impact of giant cruise ships.
The protest was spearheaded by environmental groups and “No Grande Navi” (No Big Ships), a group dedicated to combating the mega cruise ships which are a regular sight in Venice.
Locals and environmental activists have long protested against cruise ships in Venice, with critics claiming the waves the giant vessels create are eroding the foundations of the Renaissance city.
While Italian politicians have repeatedly considered “banning” the cruise ships from the city, no hard action has ever been taken.
Chanting “Venice resist” and calling for the resignation of the mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, the marchers also appealed for a massive flood barrier project, Mose, to be cancelled and protested the corruption they say has dogged the project from the outset.
The multi-billion euro project – which aims to protect the city from flooding – has been under way since 2003 but has been plagued by cost overruns, corruption scandals and delays.
