High Water in Venice
What is it and when does it occur?
First of all we must understand what high water is and when it happens:
The phenomenon of high tide in Venice usually occurs from November to March: the water periodically floods the low-lying islands and, in these periods, various areas of Venice are flooded, thus creating some inconvenience for residents but a lot of fun and wonder for tourists .
The areas most affected by the high water in Venice are those of San Marco and Rialto because they are the oldest and lowest in the city. The north (Cannaregio district) and the central area (San Polo district) are the least affected.
It should be underlined that high tide in Venice takes only 6 hours like a normal tide and its intensity depends on the sirocco wind: the more it blows, the more the water level increases.
Can we make predictions about high water?
What do Venetians do during high water?
Up to 130 cm, they live the city as usual, working and following their routine. After that level, the situation begins to be problematic because the water also enters the ground floor of most of the districts of Venice and not only in St. Mark’s Square or Rialto and the owners must prevent the house or shop from being flooded even at the internal. Many rooms are equipped with pumps that push the water outside.
In any case, the city is fully organized and equipped to face the High Tide of Venice.
How do you deal with high water in Venice?
High water is undoubtedly not the best thing when visiting the city: it creates problems for those who are in Venice for the first time and are not used to it.
But Venice is perfectly organized to deal with problems by giving citizens and tourists everything they need to experience the city without problems.
The first thing you will see are the docks located in St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge, the campi and calli and the main public boat stops. Here you can cross flooded areas without problems. The platforms are useful up to 140 cm, after which it is considered emergency and the water rises up the daisies, but only 3 times in the last century has the high tide of Venice exceeded that level.
To get around the city without problems, you should buy a pair of boots (can be purchased everywhere) at affordable prices (from 5 to 10 euros) and use them for the retractable tide hours.
There are NO problems with water pipes and electricity in the apartments, house and hotel. Everything has been done to deal with Acqua Alta which is a regular phenomenon in the city.
All public transport such as vaporetto, taxis and gondolas operate normally and shops and restaurants are open as normal.
So, the only thing to do is get on your boat and take breathtaking photos of Venice underwater!
The last point, but not least, is that during high water (at a regular level therefore up to 120/130 cm) only a part of Venice is flooded. Not the whole city is “underwater”.
The record was set in 1966 with a level of 197 cm where almost 100% of the island was flooded.