Venice swamped by high tide on Christmas Eve
A soggy start to the festive season, as Venice was hit by another high tide on Christmas Eve (December 24).
It did little to deter tourists to the canal city, donning colorful shoe protectors as they waded through the water or attempted to stay dry on viewing platforms.
Some resorted to piggy backs as the most efficient and driest form of transport.
Despite a tide peaking at 54 inches, market vendors continued to sell their wares and produce.
According to the city's mayor, last month's floods caused around 1 billion euros of damage and severely impacted Venice's tourism industry.
Hoteliers reported an initial 45% cancelation rate followed by a lack of new bookings.
