Acqua Alta - High Water in Venice
High Water, Alta Acqua
Venice, Italy
Questions & Answers about high tide in Venice
About
Acqua Alta, when the tide rises and floods lower areas of Venice (usually around St Mark’s Square) is a natural and seasonal occurence.
When this happens, teams of workers placed raise platforms along most of the affected routes to enable people to continue moving around the city (see image below).
How long does Acqua Alta last in Venice?
Acqua Alta usually only lasts a few hours and happens mostly in winter.
Should you be worried? No. In the areas most affected (usually around St Mark’s Square as it’s the lowest part of Venice), raised wooden walkways are put up for people to walk on.
Should bring waterproof or Wellington/rubber boots?
If you are happy to purchase waterproof over shoes (sold in many Venice stores), then no.
Should you be in Venice when there’s a high tide you will find many shops sells waterproof over shoes, rain capes. If you wish, you can find a store that sells rubber boots.
Today
The new Venetian Mose (Moses) project is used to prevent the worst of tides from entering the Venetian Lagoon.
So how long do these flood waters last? Not long. Most an hour and a half or so. So why not embrace the occasion to be part of one of Venice’s natural events – or take the time to go to a bar, eat and drink.
During times of high water, the acqua alta Venice is well known for, most everything continues as normal because, for Venetians, this is normal. Transport services will continue as normal and will only be affected if there’s an exceptionally high tide.
San Marco Attractions
For an overview of the area view the main page: San Marco
St Mark’s Square
St Mark’s Basilica
St Mark’s Clocktower
St Mark’s Campanile
Doge’s Palace
Piazzetta Di San Marco
Historic Cafes
Museo Correr
Marciana Library
National Archaeological Museum
Olivetti Museum
Bridge Of Sighs
Church Of Santo Stefano
Church Of San Salvatore
Church Of San Moise
Palazzo Grassi
Palazzo Contarini Del Bovolo
Palace Gardens
Music Museum
La Fenice
Harry’s Bar
Fortuny Palace
Fondaco Tedeschi
Santa Croce Attractions
For an overview of the area view the main page: Santa Croce
Natural History Museum
Papadopoli Gardens
Church Of San Nicola Da Tolentino
San Stae Church
Palazzo Mocenigo
San Giacomo Dell’Orio
Ca’ Pesaro
Cannaregio Attractions
For an overview of the area view the main page: Cannaregio
Ca D’oro
Campo Dei Mori
Casino Di Venezia
Chiesa Degli Scalzi
Color Library
Madonna Dell’Orto
Marco Polo House
Oratorio Dei Crociferi
Wagner Museum
Venice Ghetto
Santi Apostoli
Scuola Grande Della Misericordia
Santa Maria Dei Miracoli
San Polo Attractions
For an overview of the area view the main page: San Polo
Rialto Bridge
Rialto Markets
Campo San Polo
Church Of San Polo
Scuola Grande Di San Rocco
San Giacomo Di Rialto
Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari
Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista
Castello Attractions
For an overview of the area view the main page: Castello
Aqua Alta Bookshop
Scuola Grande Di San Marco
Basilica Dei Santi Giovanni E Paolo
Church Of San Zaccaria
Marinaressa Gardens
Naval Museum
Venice Arsenale
Palazzo Grimani
Riva Degli Schiavoni
Riva Dei Sette Martiri
San Francesco Della Vigna
San Giovanni In Bragora
Santa Maria Della Pieta
Biennale & Giardini
Querini Stampalia
Dorsoduro Attractions
For an overview of the area view the main page: Dorsoduro
Ca’ Rezzonico
Fondamenta Delle Zattere
Gallerie Dell Accademia
Palazzo Cini
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Ponte Dei Pugni
Punta Della Dogana
San Barnaba
San Pantalon
San Sebastiano
Santa Maria Della Salute
Scuola Grande Dei Carmini
Giudecca
Venice Lagoon Islands
For an overview of the area view the main page: Venice Lagoon Islands
Murano
Burano
La Vignole
Lido Di Venezia
Mazzorbo
San Francesco Del Deserto
San Lazzaro degli Armeni
San Servolo
Sant’Erasmo
San Michele
Lazzaretto Nuovo
Torcello
Chioggia