Much of Venice's historic centre was underwater overnight after the city recorded one of its highest ever tides.
The waters of the Grand Canal rose to 1m 43cm (56ins) and flooded streets, hotels, restaurants and the city's famous churches.
Italian news reports said up to 60 per cent of Venice was flooded as it was hit by its 15th highest tide since records began.
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A woman breaks slabs of frozen snow floating on high water in Piazza San Marco, in Venice as the notorious high tide reached a peak of 1m 43cm (56ins)
The world famous St Mark's Square was also flooded overnight and tourists had to push past floating snow to get to the other side
A tourist dressed in mask wades through the floating ice in St Mark's Square. The acqua alta coincided with the final day of the Carnival of Venice. The Carnival is called 'Live in Colour' this year but the city's iconic gondolas were blanketed in white when heavy snow fell
Experts had feared the waters would rise even further but local media reported this was prevented by a change of wind.
The exceptionally high tide, known locally as acqua alta, was made worse by recent heavy snowfall and rain in the area.
The north of Italy has been blanketed in snow over the past couple of weeks causing havoc to schools and transport.
Local newspaper Corriere Del Veneto confirmed the water level had reached 1m 43cm in the city overnight.
Paulo Canestrelli, director of the Tide Centre, told the newspaper there had been concerns the tide would reach 1m 60cm (63ins) but the 'problem was made less severe late in the evening by the change of wind.'
The worst of the flooding is believed to be over with water levels due to drop below the metre line today and tomorrow.
The foyer of Venice's Hotel Principe was submerged overnight and was one of many busy hotels that was damaged by the flood water
Furniture and ornate rugs were piled onto to plastic boxes to try to protect them from the flood waters. Staff are used to dealing with the periodic flooding in Venice
Despite the disruption the hotel remained open and many business owners across the city were forced to stay awake all night to try and keep the waters out
It is the fifth exceptionally high tide in Venice since 2000.
In November, tourists swam across the flooded St Mark's Square as the waters rose to about waist height.
Tourists flock to the city to see acqua alta and were spotted last night wading through the flooded streets carrying luggage over their heads and wearing plastic bags to try to keep their feet dry.
Many shopkeepers, hotels and cafe owners were awake through the night as they tried to keep the water out of their businesses and prevent flooding.
It is especially bad timing as the city is currently holding the Carnival of Venice, which closes today.
This year's event is called 'Live in Colour' but most of the city was blanketed in white yesterday after a heavy snowfall.
The acqua alta has become a tourist attraction in its own right and these women came to watch the phenomenon on the flooded quay in front of the Rialto bridge
Under water: Following snowfall and heavy rain residents had to wade through Venice's flooded streets after the city recorded its 15th highest tide
Residents donned wellington boots and waders as they made their way through the flooded city streets that were submerged by the high tide
The famous Church of the Scalzi was also hit by floods, right, as the relatively common flooding was made worse by recent heavy snow and rain
This man sought respite from the high waters by standing on a bench outside a pizza restaurant
Flooding is common at this time in the Floating City and in an attempt to save the city workers are building a £4billion flood barrier - dubbed the 'Moses' project.
It consists of 78 giant steel gates to help stop the tidal surge from the Adriatic and is due for completion next year.
Acqua alta or unusually high tide is a well-known phenomenon in Venice and causes more dramatic flooding when combined with heavy rainfall or certain winds and is most likely to happen between September and April.
The worst came in November, 1966, when priceless works of art were destroyed and thousands of people were left homeless as the waters rose to up 194cm above its normal level.
Locals and tourists did the best they could to stay dry with some wearing wellington boots while others resorted to plastic bags tied around their legs
People wait in the melting snow at Vaporette station at the Piazzale Roma as the waters rise
The heavy snowfall, which blanketed the city, including St Mark's Square, pictured, has added to Venice's weather woes
Venice's world famous gondolas, pictured at one of the city's many gondola stations, were hit by snowfall yesterday
