My wife and I are traveling to Italy for the first time from the United States and we fly in to Venice this Saturday November 17. We have booked a hotel near St. Mark's Square and we're staying for 2 nights, our plan was to leave Monday morning for Rome. We also have a hotel in Rome for 2 nights November 19-20. Nothing else has been booked. Given the flooding in Venice now, we are debating whether we should cancel our hotel and go immediately to Florence or Rome from the Venice train station or just stay for 1 night in Venice instead of 2. We have limited time as we take a cruise out of Civitavecchia (near Rome) in the late afternoon of Wednesday November 21. The cruise returns to Civitavecchia early morning on Saturday December 1. We then have 1 more day in Rome overnight, our flight leaves the morning of Sunday December 2. Does anyone have experience with major flooding in Venice? I know that some flooding is normal for this time of year but this is very extreme. We e-mailed the hotel and they say that things are much better today and that they are fully operational but that people without high boots needed to stay in their rooms yesterday and not leave the hotel. The weather there is supposed to clear up and start to "dry out" on Wednesday but not until then. Seeing video of tourists carrying their luggage in knee-high water on their way out of Venice from their hotel is a scary sight. We won't be taking too much luggage but we'll have 2 large suitcases and 2 carry-ons.
Would the flooding recede enough by Saturday to make Venice still a worthwhile place to visit? We aren't sure if the historical sights will be open by Saturday. Or should we not chance it and leave right away to see another part of Italy further south? My wife found what seems to be a lovely 1/2 day food tour in Bologna or we can go to Florence or to Rome early. Any help is very much appreciated!
Posted by
California
492 posts
Ben, we are currently here in Venice for three months. Yes, the flooding was severe yesterday (I hear the sixth worst flooding since 1960). It flooded in the morning and by mid afternoon the flooding is gone. The flooding is tidal, meaning it only last a few hours. Here's the the link for the water level forecast. The water lever yesterday was 149 cm. No flooding today.
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
With just a few days before your cruise I think it would be best to skip Venice this time and go on to Rome your first day. A few days in Rome will pass quickly since there is so much to see and do there. Since you will already be at the Venice airport, maybe you could get a flight from Venice to Rome. The train trip is something like 5 hours. EasyJet may have such a flight. Do you arrive Nov 17 or 18? I suppose some flights from the east coast would arrive the same day as departure. From the west coast we always arrive the next day.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Swan apparently didn't read the response from the person who is actually in Venice. Although this kind of flooding makes for dramatic pictures, it's tidal in nature, and therefore only lasts a few hours. No reason at all to change your plans, Ben.
Posted by
Arlington, TX, USA
281 posts
I don't think this is tidal flooding. Italy experienced heavy rain earlier this week. Tuscany received major flooding and it has washed out some
roads. I think I would opt for the extra time in Rome this trip.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Paula, why do you hate Venice? :-) The first report above (from Venice!) says the flooding in Venice was all gone later that day. Yes, the rest of Italy has experienced floods (and the damage associated with it), but that's no reason not to go to Venice, esp. since they're flying into the Venice airport.
Posted by
Arlington, TX, USA
281 posts
Michael, What an odd accusation. Have you seen news on the FLOODS causing the high water in Venice? If Ben and his family are only there for two days why spend them carrying your bag on your shoulder of wading in the stench. Hopefully, the water has receded by now but I wouldn't want my first visit to Venice to be during one of the worst floods since
the late 1800's.
Posted by
OP
Newton, MA, USA
2 posts
Thanks for the replies especially from JustTravel who is in Venice now and who gave us the very useful Venice tidal forecast link. We learned that the extreme flooding was a very unusual singular event. Minor flooding does occur sometimes according to how high the daily high tides reach. But if they occur then usually only generates a foot or so of water and that only lasts a few hours (usually it only affects the lowest areas of Venice around St. Mark's Square and it's done by noon). We're excited and leave Friday for Venice!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32814 posts
Paula, chill... Have you not seen the reports that the floods have passed? Its a regular thing, one was bigger, there is water throughout Italy from time to time, no biggie...
Posted by
St. Louis, MO (formerly, Windermere, FL)
340 posts
Ben,
Have a wonderful time in Venice! You are going at such a great time of year. The crowds and heat are gone and the locals are out of tourist season mode. My first visit to that magical city was in December, 1999. The night we arrived we got "lost" after dark while wandering the canals/streets. Many of the walkways were deserted and in the moon and lamplight Venice felt like ours alone. We found our way back by following the "per Rialto" and "per San Marco" signs on the building's corners and, along the way, escaped the chilly darkness in a cosy little taverna. Such memories. . . Although it was a lot of water, the residents are used to dealing with it and things should be pretty normal. I bet if you ask you will hear some good stories about the event. Ciao!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
1068 posts
Guess I am weighing in late, but just wanted to give a shout-out to Venice, despite flooding. My first trip to Venice was during a gloomy, rainy, WET WET WET and flooded October. There were make-shift wooden walkways everywhere and ankle deep water to wade through. Yes, it is higher this year. I get that. BUT - Venice was still magical. No, strike that. It was MAGICAL, despite torrents of rain, deep gloom, and flooding. I wouldn't have missed it for the world, even having been back when the sun was out.