Acqua alta
The high tides that flood St Mark’s Square, now held back by the MOSE barriers.
Photo: Marco Ober, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Several times a year, mostly in autumn and winter, the tides of the Adriatic rise high enough to flood the lowest parts of Venice, St Mark’s Square first. Raised walkways go up, and sirens warn the city.
In 1966 and 2019 the water rose to almost two metres. Since 2020 the MOSE, a row of barriers on the seabed at the mouths of the lagoon, can be raised to hold the tide back. Ride through Venice in 3D ›
More in Venice
Piazza San MarcoThe only square in Venice called a piazza, ringed by arcades and opening onto the lagoon.
St Mark’s BasilicaBuilt for the relics of Saint Mark, covered inside with golden mosaics.
Doge’s PalaceThe pink and white Gothic palace from which the doges ruled the Republic of Venice.
Campanile di San MarcoThe bell tower of St Mark’s, which fell down in 1902 and was rebuilt “where it was, as it was”.
Bridge of SighsThe covered stone bridge between the Doge’s Palace and the prisons, built in 1600.
Rialto BridgeThe stone bridge of 1591 over the Grand Canal, with shops along its arch.
Grand CanalThe great S-shaped waterway through the middle of Venice, lined with palaces.
MercerieThe chain of narrow shopping lanes from St Mark’s to the Rialto, the race route in the game.
La FeniceVenice’s opera house, which has risen from its ashes more than once, as its name promises.
GondolaThe long black boat of Venice, rowed standing up with a single oar.
VaporettoThe water bus of Venice, chugging up and down the Grand Canal from stop to stop.
CarnivalTwo weeks of masks and costumes before Lent, filling the squares of Venice.