How bad does the flooding in venice? IS there a season for it or can it happen any time? I have seen of pictures of san marco square flooded and it looks scary.

<BR><BR>Yes, to high water (&quot;aqua alta&quot, there is a season. Generally, if not always, it happens from the late fall through early spring. <BR><BR>Piazza San Marco is the lowest place in Venice and, consequently, has the worst flooding. I'm sure it hampers sightseeing but one can still get around on the elevated wooden walkways that are placed in flooded areas.

And the aspect that is least emphasized about it - - it typically lasts for only a few hours. Remember, Venice is like a &quot;colander&quot; sitting on a basin of water. The flooding doesn't come up, up over the edges of the canal banks, so much as it comes up right through the stones in the piazza(s). And it drains right back down the same way, as the tide goes down. Rarely exceeds 6-12 inches.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Most importantly, understand that this is mostly an overnight event. Starts in late evening and is usually gone by late morning, in time for lunch. You'll see shopkeepers squeegeeing out their shops -- note that everything is displayed well above the floors just for this reason, especially in the upscale shops in San Marco.

like the tide.<BR>

In late September when we were there the Square flooding was there in the afternoon until around 2:30. Guess it depends on the season and what time the tide comes in and out. Like someone said, they put up these elevated walkways and we were able to still do most of what we wanted to, like visiting Duge Palace and the Clock Tower.