Venice holds water for the first time in 1,200 years

Venice, Italy (CNN) – Sebastian Fagarazi is used to move his luggage around. As a Venetian, who lives on the ground floor, every time the city faces Aqua Alta – regularly flooded by high tides – he risks raising or losing everything off the floor, including furniture and appliances.

But on October 3, with a 135-centimeter (53-inch) high tide forecast – which would normally see half the city under different water levels – it did nothing when the flood sirens stopped. “I had faith,” he says.

Saturday was the first Elka of the season for Venice. It was also the day when, after decades of delay, controversy and corruption, it finally trimmed its long-awaited flood barriers against the tide.

The previous trial in July, under the supervision of Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, went well – but it was in good weather, at low tide. The previous trial did not manage to erect all 78 gates in the barriers set up in the Venetian lagoon.

Against all odds, it worked.

At 12.05pm, high tide, St. Marcus Square – which starts flooding from just 90 centimeters, and it must have been knee deep – was very dry, with only large pits being maintained around the drains.

Square cafes and shops, which often have to be closed for late hours, remained open.

And in the northern district of Cannaregio, Sebastian Fagarazi’s house remained dry.

The defense system is called Moz (Italian), Italian MOSE (MOSE), named after the more functional modules Spirimentel Electromac an Nico, meaning electromagnetic experimental module. It includes 78 flood barriers installed along the coast at the three main entry points of the lagoon.

When high tides come, they can stand to build dams, preventing the Dryatic Sea from entering the lawn and flooding the city.

Delay and corruption

Venice’s single alte (“high water”) usually occurs between October, October and March and lasts for a few hours, mainly affecting the two lowest (and most visited) areas of the city: the area around San Marco and Rialto. The phenomenon is usually caused by a combination of exceptionally high tides, low atmospheric pressure and the presence of south Sirocco winds.

In recent years, their frequency and intensity have been increasing due to climate change. On November 12, 2019, the city was devastated by an alka alta reaching 187 centimeters with about 90% flooding. With the sharp decline in the number of tourists at the top of the cost of losses, businesses have struggled to recover. The devastation after the epidemic has brought the locals to their knees.

The Mose project has been working since 1984, but has been plagued by delays and corruption so much that many Venetians have never believed it would work.

“That doesn’t seem to be true,” says Serena Nalon at the Bottega del Mondo store in Canaragio. Its business – fair trade cooperatives – suffered heavy losses in last year’s floods.

“I was very skeptical – not because they’ve spent so much money so far without results, so I had low expectations this morning,” he says.

“I was worried when I saw the tide predictions, then somewhere between wonderful and happy when it worked. You appreciate things more when you don’t expect.”

‘Hist Historical Day’

Testing in mild weather conditions was the next step for Moose, which has not yet been completed. And on Friday, when a full moon and strong winds were forecast for the next morning, the city council sought permission to raise barriers.

A general flood siren sounded in the city around 8 a.m. Saturday, when testing began half an hour later. By 10.10, the barriers were completely erected – and when the water level rose to 132 centimeters outside of the season, it remained at 70 centimeters – enough to keep San Marco dry.

“This was a historic day for Venice,” Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who later met with MOSE Special Commissioner Elizabeth Spitz, told reporters.

“There is unbearable satisfaction after seeing countless decades of water reaching everywhere in the city, which has caused massive damage.

“We have shown that, not only would the city have been flooded with that tide, but it also runs from the 19-knot Sirocco wind, which makes it work.”

In the city, the Venetians – many of whom had barred their property from incoming water – could hardly trust their fate. At the El Fornareto Bakery in Cannaregio, locals laughed as they lined up for bread in sneakers instead of the gumboots they normally wear. The pastor, Don Paolo Bellio, also mentioned the success of his evening sermon at the church of San Nicoli de Mendicoli in the South Dorsoduro district – which is usually at a distance of 10 cm.

“We were rescued today,” he said later. “We didn’t have to use the pump. It was amazing, but I’m glad it worked – especially since it’s been criticized. It’s a fun day for everyone.”

Commissioner Spitz called it a “clear success” on Saturday, saying it was “just a fundamental step to save the city and the lagoon.” The project – which includes footpaths up to 110 cm in the lowest area of ​​the city and permanent defense walls near flood barriers – is to be completed in December 2021, when it will be handed over to the city.

Until then, it has been agreed that from now on, the barrier will be raised every time the tide reaches a level of 130 centimeters, i.e. catastrophic floods, like last year should be a thing of the past (at least, in the medium term. Climate change) means that the moose is uncertain Will not hold water for time). However, once the city is captured, the barriers will move at a speed of 110 centimeters.

‘Sour taste’

However, what this means is that acqu qua alta in St. Mark’s Square – which is flooded at 90 centimeters – will continue. And indeed, on Sunday, just 24 hours after Moose’s victory, the city’s iconic piazza was a calf in the water, 106 centimeters above sea level.

As tourists took selfies and danced in the water, the air of resignation hung over shops and cafes again – again.

Although the high tide came at 12.25pm, he kept the cafe closed all morning, ile the velvet chairs on the standing tables and blocking the entrances. It’s not that it helped; Even an hour after the tide, the strange napkins and coasters were still floating on the green mosaic floor.

“As a Venetian I’m happy yesterday, but as a person working at Piazza San Marco, it doesn’t change anything, and it leaves a taste of flavor,” he says.

“We have the solution. Yesterday the pizza was dry. This is the day after the test, and look at that. We just want to work – this is the heart of the city, it provides so much work for so many people.

“We always approached Aqua Alta with the resignation, but now it is with despair because we know there is a solution. We have to wait for years – now let’s get it working.”

Mayor Brugnaro told CNN that Moss’s success is a “comeback” not only for Venice but also for Italy after suffering heavy losses during an epidemic in the country. “Giving a simpler, more general sense of the city, even with a little more Selfista – because nothing a few centimeters more than destruction – I think it can show the world that we have the technology here, and it could be another economy to balance tourism. “

Fagrazi, meanwhile, is relieved lately. “Last year was shocking – you heard the siren and couldn’t stop it. I think we still don’t understand how amazing the news is. This is a new day for Venice as it is the first time in 1,200 years. [since the seat of power moved to St Mark’s Square] That the city would not be flooded in the wake of the tide.

“For Venetians, this feels like Armstrong’s first step on the moon.”