Venice flooded by highest tide in more than 50 years - Sky News, Sky.com

Venice has been hit by its highest tide in more than 50 years, leaving much of the popular tourist destination flooded.

City officials said the tide peaked at (cm) 6. (ft (at) . 50 pm on Tuesday, just short of the 194 cm seen in 1966.

Many of the city’s historic squares were left deep underwater.

Visitors were forced to make their way along temporary platforms above the water, while others donned wet weather gear and sloshed through the floods.

Tourists walk in high water near Rialto bridge in Piazza San Marco on November 12, 2019 in Venice, Italy — Image: Venice’s mayor has blamed climate change for the increasingly regular flooding

The flooded San Marco square with St. Mark's Basilica and the Bell Tower are pictured during an exceptional — Image: Saint Mark’s (San Marco) Square had more than a meter of water

Cafes, stores and other businesses were inundated by high water and nursery schools were closed as a precaution.

Saint Mark’s Square had more than a meter (3.3ft) of water and Saint Mark’s Basilica was flooded for only the sixth time in 1, 200 years – four of those being in the last two decades.

The extent of damage to the historical church is not clear but when it last flooded in 2018, its administrator said it had aged 20 years in a single day.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro blamed climate change, saying: “The situation is dramatic. We ask the government to help us. The cost will be high.

” This is the result of climate change . A high tide of 187 cm is going to leave an indelible wound. “

A room in the flooded Gritti Palace is pictured during an exceptional — Image: The Gritti Palace was among the places affected by the water

A person walks across flooded St. Mark's square during an exceptional — Image: City officials said the tide peaked at 187 cm late on Tuesday night

The high water is known locally as “acqua alta” but even low levels take their toll – eroding the foundations of buildings in the lagoon city.

It comes after authorities announced that access to La Pelosa Beach in northwest Sardinia will be limited to 1, 500 people per day, with entrants having to pay a fee.

The fee will be used to maintain and monitor the beach, according to Stintino mayor Antonio Diana, who said the white sand paradise had been suffering under the strain of its popularity.

Beachgoers breaking the rules will be fined up to € 500.