St. Mark’s Square reopens in Venice

VENICE, Italy — Tourists and residents were allowed back into St. Mark’s Square in Venice on Saturday, a day after it was closed due to exceptionally high tidal waters that swept through most of the lagoon city’s already devastated center.

Despite sunny skies, the city remained on edge due to possibly more windpropelled high tidal waters during the weekend. The city was struck Tuesday by devastating floods, the worst in decades.

Water rose up again in St. Mark’s Square on Saturday and the forecast for Sunday was worse. The tide peaked at 3 feet, 7 inches above sea level on Saturday at noon, leaving St. Mark’s inundated with more than 8 inches of water.

Late Tuesday, water levels in Venice reached 6 feet, 1 inch above sea level, the highest flooding since 1966. The forecast for Sunday was for the high water mark to reach 5.2 feet above sea level.

On Saturday, tourists sloshed through St. Mark’s Square and strolled across it on raised walkways.

Many took photos of themselves in shallow water in front of St. Mark’s Square. Museums filled up again, and the city’s gondolas were back in business.

Luigi Brugnaro, the city’s mayor, estimated damage from the flooding would reach at least $1.1 billion.

“Venice is once again being watched by the world and it needs to show that it can succeed and pick itself back up,” the mayor said.

Luca Bruno / Associated Press A tourist is reflected in a puddle along with St. Mark’s cathedral as water starts rising again in Venice, Italy. High tidal waters returned Saturday, four days after the city experienced its worst flooding in 50 years.