Fears for Venice's basilica after devastating flood
Venice is famous for its waters, but not Saint Mark's Basilica.
It's been flooded only six times in 1,200 years.
But this is the fourth time in the last two decades.
The mayor of Venice said the basilica had suffered "grave damage" brought on by the second highest tide ever recorded here.
And he declared a state of emergency in the Italian city.
The damage outside was every bit as big.
Boats washed up and deposited in narrow streets.
Furniture outside restaurants ruined.
Devastation in the harbor, too.
Night-time footage showed a torrent of water raging through the city center.
Officials said the tide peaked at 1.8 meters - over 6 feet - just short of the record set in the 1960s.
Saint Mark's Square was left submerged by more than a meter of water.
Some locals and tourists carried on regardless, wading their way through the flood water.
Others took the opportunity for a late evening swim.
The mayor said the financial cost is likely to run into hundreds of millions of euros, and he blamed the disaster on climate change.
The worst may be yet to come.
More bad weather is forecast over the next few days.
