When we think of Venice, we think of water. But have you ever thought that there could be too much water in the historic European city?
When photographer Natalia Elena Massi found out there was a flood in Venice, she immediately packed her bags and decided to explore it firsthand. And even though it wasnโt the first time she went there, the whole experience still took her by surprise. โI heard about the flood from the news, I live in Italy, in Brescia, a city 100 kilometers (62 miles) away from Venice. We know there are floodings in Venezia. The Venetians are used to it, but this time it was an exceptionally high tide.โ.
โI love Venice, and I visit it whenever I can. This time, I decided to go and photograph the city with the hope of finding it beautiful anyway.โI thought, โIโm so close to Venice, and thereโs such an extraordinary event (the water reached 187 cm (6 feet)), I have to see it with my own eyesโ.โI was also curious to understand how itโs possible to live with the constant concern of being flooded. So, on November 16th, I decided to goโ.
โI was also curious to understand how itโs possible to live with the constant concern of being flooded. So, on November 16th, I decided to goโ. โI hadnโt thought about how difficult it could be. Imagine walking for hours with water well above your kneesโโI worked in manual mode, I didnโt want to leave anything to chanceโโI had to change settings often based on the scene but also in situations with less light (narrow alleys) or more light (bigger alleys or squares with water reflection)โ.โThe atmosphere was surreal,โ โThere was silence, an empty Venice, I have never seen before. The most interesting part of the journey was being able to see the majesty of the city and how its beauty was amplified by all that water.
Some of the most beautiful sights in Italy are actually its cities! From Naples to Perugia, Rome to Florence, here are 10 of the most beautiful cities in Italy.