Published 02:45 IST, November 16th 2019
Venice: Major tourist attractions in the city severely damaged by high tides
Major flooding in Venice causes damage to 7 major tourist attractions and cause damage worth millions of Euros. Italian Leaders blame climate change as a cause.
- World News
- 2 min read
Venice: Flood levels exceeding six feet submerged some of the city's most revered and trafficked sites. The acqua alta or high water as it was called by the mayor of Venice is a direct blow to the heart of the city as the flooding has washed away over 85 per cent of the city and its tourist spots.
City on its knees...
This is indeed a serious blow for one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
The city suffered hundreds of millions of euros' worth of damage, with shops, buildings and hundreds of pieces of infrastructure being damaged in the severe flooding.
50 years ago, in 1966, the city experienced the worst-hit floods with an increase in water levels of up to 6 feet 4 inches, just like this time the floods also left the city devastated with extensive damage to some of the city's most precious art.
The major tourist spots that were damaged were St.Mark's square which is also known as Piazza San Marco. This is a prime attraction for millions of tourists.
Major tourist spots damaged
St. Mark’s Basilica, completed in the 11th century, is Venice’s most popular site, drawing tourists to its Italo-Byzantine architecture and connection to the Catholic Church. Banksy’s ‘shipwrecked girl’ mural, this mural is a tribute of the rogue artist Banksy to the hundreds of refugees that have died crossing the Mediterranean. Gritti Palace, Gritti Palace is famous for playing host to royal visitors to Venice, politicians and other celebrities.
Even the famous Libreria Acqua Alta that was built with flooding in mind couldn't have the event brought on by the floods and as a result, hundreds of books were reportedly lost in the shop. Grand Canal is a major water-traffic corridor.
And lastly, Doge's Palace.
Italian leaders blamed the effects of climate change on the rising ocean waters and swollen rivers that lead into the city.
Updated 07:12 IST, November 16th 2019