How Venetians are braving deadliest floods to hit the city in over 50 years

In the deadliest floods to hit the European city in over 50 years, residents of Venice came together to brave the incessant rain and protect their culture, art and heritage.

A picture showcasing water levels in Venice on November 17. Venetians are bracing for the prospect of another exceptional tide in a season that is setting new records. Officials are forecasting a 1.6 meter (5 feet, 2 inches) surge Sunday. That comes after 

Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is seen in St. Mark's Square during a solidarity visit to Venice following the exceptional high water that brought the city to its knees, in Venice, northern Italy, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. Four days ago, the Italian lagoon city experienced its worst flooding in more than 50 years. (Photo | AP)

A city worker helps a woman who decided to cross St. Mark square on a gangway, in spite of prohibition, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (Photo | AP)

Life goes on: Tourists and residents resume their normal routine at a bar in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. High tidal waters returned to Venice on Sunday, days after the city experienced its worst flooding in more than 50 years. (Photo | AP)

People walk in flooded Venice, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. Venetians are bracing for the prospect of another exceptional tide in a season that is setting new records. (Photo | AP)

People remove damaged items from an alley in Venice, northern Italy, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. (Photo | AP)

In this photo taken on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, Italian artist Paolo Brandolisio, who hosts workshops for tourists, stands in his oars flooded laboratory, in Venice, Italy. (Photo | AP)

Venetians are fed up with what they see as an inadequate to the city's mounting problems: record-breaking flooding, damaging cruise ship traffic and over-tourism. They feel largely left to their own devices, and with ever fewer Venetians living in the historic part of the city to defend its interests and keep it from becoming a theme park or museum. (Photo | AP)