Venice, Italy flooded with high tide and rain (video)

Venice has been inundated with high water levels since Thursday, due to a high tide. The city is on high alert as the water is not expected to recede for at least 15 hours.

While people are used to a lot of water in Venice, Venetians took to wearing high boots and using wooden walkways to wade through the streets on Thursday. Some shops and ground-floor apartments were flooded.

With Venice having been built on hundreds of small islands, the city often experiences high water levels in autumn and winter... read more and watch video.

Venice and Veneto region seeking independence from Italy (video)

First it was Scotland and Catalonia protesting for independence, now the people of Venice and the Veneto area of Italy also want to be separate, free and on their own.

Instead of being saddled with austerity by Rome, Venice wants to be free. Over 70% of residents in the area support the push for independence, according to the latest poll conducted by local newspaper Il Gazzettino, although a previous poll conducted by Corriere della Sera in September found that 80% were in favor.

Protesters gathered in front of the central government building in Veneto, Italy on Saturday, demanding an immediate referendum on the region's independence from Rome.... read more.