Mosaics and columns in St
Mark's have been damaged by recent flooding in Venice, the
Procuratorate of the basilica said on Tuesday.
It said it would still take some time to assess exactly how
much damage had been caused by the salt water.
But it was already clear that some of the mosaics on the
floor of the storied church had been damaged to some extent.
These included one of two peacocks and another one showing a
flowered carpet.
The base of some columns has also been clearly damaged, the
Procuratorate said.
Some of the marble had partially crumbled, it said.
The peacocks are in the basilica's right nave, in an area
where tourists do not usually go.
The flowered carpet, which is in a zone of tourist passage,
has now been covered with a rubber carpet to protect it from the
dirt brought on passing tourists' shoes.
"Assessments are being made," said St Mark's Procurator
Pierpaolo Campostrini.
He said the floor had risen in some points and, after
swelling, had shed some pieces of mosaic.
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