The eyes of the world have turned to Venice as the historic city’s streets are inundated with floodwaters.
Artnet News is covering the unfolding situation as both the Venice Biennale and the city’s museums close their doors amid the near-record flooding. Below, see photos that give a sense of what the situation is like for Venice’s businesses and cultural sites, from St. Mark’s Basilica, whose crypt flooded for only the second time in its history, to the Gritti Palace, the historic Gothic palazzo and hotel on the Grand Canal.
Venice suffers the worst flooding in 50 years. Photo by Anna Henly / Barcroft Media via Getty Images.
Rising waters are pictured in a canal during the floods on November 12 in Venice. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
An artwork by street artist Banksy portraying a migrant child wearing a lifejacket and holding a neon pink flare pictured during the November 13 floods in Venice. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
A woman stands by the entrance of the Casa Della Studente during the Venice floods on November 12. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
A shop owner clears his flooded premises on November 12 in Venice. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
A pharmacy uses an electric pump during the floods in Venice on November 12. Photo by Stefano Mazzola/Awakening/Getty Images.
Water fills the floor inside of a shop on November 13 in Venice. Photo by Simone Padovani/Awakening/Getty Images.
A flooded store. Photo by Simone Padovani/Awakening/Getty Images.
High tide in Venice on November 12. Photo by Giacomo Cosua/NurPhoto via Getty Images.
A store faces the rising waters in Venice. Photo by Simone Padovani/Awakening/Getty Images.
Fire fighters conduct search and rescue operations following the flooding in Venice on November 13. Photo by Vigili del Fuoco/Italian National Firefighters Corps/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images.
A stranded water taxi on an embankment during the high tide late on November 12. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
A man carries his suitcase through a flooded street in Venice. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
St. Mark’s Square and Bell Tower after the flooding on November 12. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
Tourists walk in the high water in Piazza San Marco on November 12. Photo by Stefano Mazzola/Awakening/Getty Images.
![A general view shows the Doge's Palace overlooking the flooded St. Mark's Square, the Lion of St. Mark winged bronze statue [center], gondolas and the Venetian lagoon during the floods on November 13 in Venice. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.](https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2019/11/flooding-san-marco-square-1024x683.jpg)
Doge’s Palace overlooking St. Mark’s Square on November 13. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
Moored gondolas and a damaged baluster are pictured at the Riva degli Schiavoni embankment, with the basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore in the background. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
A jetty of gondolas floats in Piazza San Marco. Photo by Stefano Mazzola/Awakening/Getty Images.
San Marco Basilica, pictured during the flooding in Venice on November 12. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
A view inside St. Mark’s Basilica during the floods on November 13. Photo by Simone Padovani/Awakening/Getty Images.
A view inside the flooded St. Mark’s Basilica. Photo by Simone Padovani/Awakening/Getty Images.
People assess damages in a wing of St. Mark’s Basilica that houses various objects such as key rings, rosaries, crosses, and leaflets. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
Inside St. Mark’s Basilica during the floods. Photo by Simone Padovani/Awakening/Getty Images.
A man pumps out water from the flooded crypt of St. Mark’s Basilica after the floods on November 12. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
Inside the crypt of St. Mark’s Basilica. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
People mop the floor of St. Mark’s Basilica after the floods. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
People clear water and mop the floors at St. Mark’s Basilica. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
A Gritti Palace employee helps a customer through the flooded entryway during the floods on November 12. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
An employee stands by the front desk of the Gritti Palace. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
A room in the Gritti Palace during the November 12 flooding. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
Inside Gritti Palace during the flooding. Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images.
Inside Gritti Palace during the flooding. Photo by Marco Bertorello//AFP via Getty Images.