On Sunday morning, I woke to a roar. The river in Pontassieve had risen like I'd never seen it before, a brown dragon on the brink of a breakdown. Because of the 1966 flood that wrecked Florence, locals look to the river Sieve as an indicator of Arno antics downstream.
WhatsApp started to light up like via de' Tornabuoni's Christmas extravaganza: Are you ok? Looks bad. Have you seen this video of the Arno in Florence? OMG. Is it going to flood in Florence?
The reality is that the authorities in Florence had their finger on the pulse from the get-go. The civil protection crew had measured the river flow throughout the night, making the decision to employ the just-opened Mensola discharge basin to keep the situation under control. Lessons have been learned, research conducted and action taken in the right direction, although there is always more that could be done as climate change continues its inexorable impact and the Arno reached its highest levels since 1992.
Your concern was palpable. Over 150,000 Florence lovers engaged with The Florentine via social media on Sunday through Facebook shares of video feed from a rooftop along lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, comments on our Instagram coverage and emails remembering (and fearing) the 1966 flood.
While Florence was fortunate, the Maremma is looking at agricultural losses to the tune of three million euro, Empoli embarks on a clean-up after flooding in the town centre and Massa Carrara is reeling in the aftermath of a whirlwind. Further afield, Venice wades in acqua alta, and the southern Italian city of Matera, currently the European Capital of Culture, has been devastated by flash floods. If you'd like to help Italy, the City of Venice is welcoming donations here.
Helen Farrell, editor-in-chief
IN HIGH WATER
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The purrfect line-up this week with a cat festival in Pisa, Swan Lake at Teatro della Pergola and photography and cinema events you won't want to miss.
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AILO Christmas Bazaar
Mark your diaries as the AILO Christmas Bazaar returns to the Tepidarium in the Giardino dell'Orticoltura this year on November 30 (3-6pm) and December 1 (10am-6pm).
Visit Florence this holiday season
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Dreaming of teaching English in Italy?
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