Venice in Acqua Alta: Live From Piazza San Marco

Venice Acqua Alta

High Water at High Noon: Keep Your Balance in St. Mark's Square - or Go for a Paddle! "Acqua Alta" is Italian for "High Water", and when a big tide comes into Venice's lagoon, that's exactly what you get in Piazza San Marco and many pedestrian streets. Fortunately, it usually only happens from autumn to spring, and the city fathers set up a network of gangways (wide wood planks on iron supports) to help people get around, but in busy areas this can make for some exciting balancing … [Read more...]

Venice: Live aboard a Gondola through the Hidden Canals

Gondola ride on the Grand Canal

Hidden waterways, live music, gondola drag racing, Armani spotting and general mayhem Escaping from the Grand Canal, the gondolas explore the hidden canals running through the back blocks of Venice, winding their way along the narrow waterways towards Piazza San Marco. Inaccessible if the tide is high, these Venetian "side streets" provide a glimpse into the true character of the city. "Well, off we go, off the Grand Canal into the deeper recesses of Venice. No, I've not fainted, I've just … [Read more...]

Street Flooding, “high water” in Piazza San Marco, Venice

Venice Flooding

Street Flooding, "high water" in San Marco: Venice City Guide Acqua alta (High tides) We've all heard about Venice flooding and seen the news shots of people wading through the waters in St Mark's Square. But actually Venice only has Acqua Alta (high water) in Autumn and Winter when some streets and squares flood, and even then there are only a few days when the waters get really high and cause disruption. The main difficulties result from the water rising … [Read more...]