FIRST EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH TIDE OF THE SEASON, BUT IT IS THE WALKWAYS THAT CAUSE PROBLEMS
The first exceptionally high tide of the season on Monday 15 October was not particularly high but in any case flooded most of the St Mark’s area. The main difficulties for Venetians and tourists crossing the square, though, were due not to the high tide but to the insufficient walkways set up in the St Mark’s area. The number of these has been the same for years, while the number of tourists and others using the square has increased considerably. So on Monday there were real ‘traffic jams’ for those wanting to go, for example, from the Procuratie to St Mark’s Basilica and the Clock Tower without getting their feet wet, as there was only one walkway available. The local press also reported on this and the director of the city council’s tidal forecast centre, Paolo Canestrelli, admitted that it is a problem that must be dealt with. It must be pointed out that in the first months of this year the Association had drawn up and distributed a questionnaire to the businesses in the square in order to collect suggestions and recommendations. The replies were given to the tidal centre. A meeting of all those concerned with the square (Sovraintendenza, Patriarcato, Associazione Piazza San Marco, Consorzio Venezia Nuova, Magistrato alle Acque) was subsequently called in February by the councillor for public works, Alessandro Maggioni, to look at the various problems of deterioration, including those related to exceptionally high tides. The several subjects considered included a change in the positioning of the walkways, different types of these and a more efficient connection between the Procuratie and St Mark’s Basilica. Subjects that on Monday proved to be as topical as ever.