While fire torched the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris this past spring, water was the adversary to St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice this fall. St. Mark’s is a popular site recognized for its iconic architecture; however, the church has recently endured devastating water damage due to flooding in the canal city.
Earlier this month, water levels in Venice reached their highest in 50 years, thanks in large part to massive downpours in recent weeks. On late Tuesday, November 12, and early the following day, the northern Italian city was bombarded by heavy rainfall. Water levels reached 1.87 meters (6.14 ft), inundating approximately 85% of the city. The resultant tide was the second largest the metropolitan area has seen since records began in 1923. The worst flood Venice faced was in 1966, when levels reached 1.96 m (6.43 ft).
Two people on the island of Pellestrina died from causes related to the flooding. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte lamented the inundation as a “blow to the heart of our country.”
The flood was devastating for the lagoon-city, which stands at an elevation of about 1m (3ft) above sea level. The brackish water caused irreversible harm to many of its architectural structures, inflicting approximately one billion euros in damage on the city.
The Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica) was one of these architectural structures. The cathedral, which resides in the Piazzo San Marco, dates back to the 11th century. It is known for its Italo-Byzantine and Gothic style architecture and is most easily recognized by its gilded domes, mosaics, tetrarchs, and round arches.
The Piazzo San Marco is located at one of Venice’s lowest points, and thus is especially susceptible to water overflow. Following the rainstorm on November 13, the crypt of St. Mark’s Basilica was completely flooded. According to Pierpaolo Campostrini, a member of the procuratorial for St. Mark’s, the flooding can be damaging if salt from the water remains trapped in the marble, eventually leading to corrosion.
St. Mark’s was not the only Catholic church impacted by the flooding; the Santa Maria Assunta Basilica was flooded three times during the week. The church is located on the island of Torcello in the Venetian lagoon. The floodwater caused damage to the church’s notable mosaics, which may date back to the 7th to 12th centuries. Up to 60 other Venetian churches also sustained damages from the recent deluges.
There have only been six instances of similarly devastating flooding in the history of St. Mark’s, with the recent increase likely due to rising ocean levels. According to Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, “These are the effects of climate change.”
The MOSE project, which began in 2003, was enacted to combat this increasing threat of flooding. The project consists of installing a series of gates to enclose the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea during high tides. However, completion has been delayed due to corruption and controversy, and will likely not occur until 2022. Until then, Venice and its churches will face the ever-present risk of flooding.
Featured image courtesy of Natasha Zinos
Quentin is studying biology at Boston College. He enjoys spending his time outdoors, whether it be hiking, camping, or canoeing. His other favorite pastimes include running, writing for The Torch, eating obscene amounts of chocolate, and crushing his opponents at Catan.
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