A number of prominent figures, including the Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk and US artist Bill Viola, filed a petition to the Italian government to ban large cruise ships entering in the lagoon of Venice.

"We are writing to ask active support in keeping the city of Venice and the lagoon," wrote the 21 signatories in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Monti.

The petition was signed among others by Pierre Rosenberg - a former director of the Louvre museum - and American writer, Donna Leon, who warned that this can cause serious damage to the environment and cultural heritage of Venice.

The letter criticized the "growing of an invasive and uncontrolled cruise ships in the lagoon of Venice, even in the vicinity of important buildings and unique locations around St. Marks Basilica. "

The signatories said they were "surprised and regretted" that the ban imposed in March to ban ships that weigh more than 40,000 tons to enter the basin St. Marks, has been canceled.

Prohibition ships  to sail closer to the coast of Venice and in its natural reserves, imposed after the sinking of the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia just off the island of Giglio in January, mainly to protect the environment.