1. 

   High tides flooded St. Mark's Square in Venice, propelled by winds that were stronger than predicted, and an experimental system of inflatable barriers wasn't activated to prevent water from invading the lagoon city. The system, while still in an experimental phase, gets activated when high tides are predicted to reach at least 1.3 meters (4 feet, 4 inches). Tuesday's tide was predicted to reach 1.25 meters. Instead, it kept rising, to a height of 1.38 meters, in late afternoon. Let us take a look at some of the images:

2. 

   A flooded St. Mark's Square in Venice. High tides flooded St. Mark’s Square in Venice on Sunday, propelled by winds that were stronger than predicted. (AP Photo)

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   Some shops were flooded, and Venetians waded in water as they scrambled to set out raised walkways. (AP Photo)

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   "Unfortunately, the weather is freer than us. It does what it wants," Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said ruefully, referring to the stronger-than-expected winds that whipped across the Adriatic from Croatia's coastline. (AP Photo)

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   Damage to shops and other business was destined to compound the suffering already sharply felt in Venice's economy by tourism largely washed away by the pandemic. (Reuters Photo)

6. 

   The area around Rialto bridge is flooded following a high tide, in Venice. (AP Photo)

7. 

   People wade through water following a high tide, in Venice. (AP Photo)

8. 

   In July, Venice successfully carried out a trial run of the ambitious anti-flood system, which consists of 78 barriers that can be inflated when needed to rise from the sea like a kind of dike-on-demand. (Reuters Photo)

9. 

   Moored gondolas are pictured in a flooded St. Mark's Basin during high tide as the flood barriers known as Mose are not raised, in Venice. (Reuters Photo)

10. 

    People walk in flooded St. Mark's Square where a digital Christmas tree visible during high tide. (Reuters Photo)

11. 

    Just over a year ago, Venice experienced its worst flooding in more than 50 years when the water reached 1.87 meters in the city. (AP Photo)

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    The new moveable barrier system is designed to protect the city from tides as high as three meters (10 feet). (Reuters Photo)

13. 

    A tide of 1.20 meters (four feet) was predicted for Wednesday, and workers were arriving to prepare to activate the barrier system hours before then, the mayor said. (Reuters Photo)

14. 

    The barriers would likely be activated shortly after midnight. (AP Photo)

15. 

    Noting that the system was still in the experimental stage, the mayor said "more rapid protocols" to activate it were needed, in view of Tuesday's flooding. (Reuters Photo)