Nearly three quarters of Venice was flooded on Monday and tourists swam in St Mark's Square as a wave of bad weather swept through northern and central Italy, forcing the evacuation of 200 people from their homes in Tuscany.

    Shops, homes and historic palaces filled with water in Venice and authorities said 70 percent of the lagoon city was flooded.

    High water in Venice reached 149 cm (5ft), the sixth highest level since records began in 1872, forcing residents to wade through waist-deep water. Tourists in swimming costumes sat at cafe tables under the water.

    There was no immediate estimate of damage to the beautiful northeastern city.

    In Tuscany, 23 centimetres (9 inches) of rain fell in four hours, causing the Ricortola and Parmignola rivers to flood, according to the regional government.

    "It has been devastating," said Roberto Pucci, the mayor of Massa Carrara in Tuscany, one of the worst hit areas.

    "I saw at least six bridges destroyed in the hills, floods, landslides, vineyards and olive groves swept away. If there hasn't been a death it's a miracle," he told Corriere della Sera newspaper.

    Local media said dozens of people took refuge on their roofs after rivers burst their banks in central Italy.

    Environment Minister Corrado Clini called for more funding to shore up Italy's weather defences. Bad weather with torrential rain was due to continue through Tuesday, forecasters said.

    It was the fourth time since 2000 that Venice had been hit by record high water, and the city's environment officer said the latest flooding was the result of global climate change.

    A barrier to protect the city from repeated winter flooding, which has been planned for decades, is due to be finished by 2015.

    由于意大利北部和中部地区遭遇恶劣天气，本周一威尼斯四分之三的地区遭遇水灾，游客在圣马丁广场游泳，托斯卡纳区也有近200人离家疏散。

    威尼斯的商店、住宅和历史遗迹都被淹没，当局表示，“水城”的70%被淹。

    威尼斯的水位达到149厘米（5英尺），是自1872年有历史记录以来的第六高水位。居民被迫在齐腰的深水中前行。游客则身穿泳衣在被淹没的咖啡桌前坐下。

    目前还没有有关这座意大利东北部美丽水城所受损失的直接估计。

    当地政府表示，托斯卡纳区4小时降水量达到23厘米（9英寸），导致Ricortola 和Parmignola河水溢出。

    托斯卡纳市长马萨-卡拉拉说：“这造成了严重影响。”托斯卡纳区是受灾最严重的地区之一。

    他告诉《意大利晚邮报》：“我知道至少有六座丘陵地带的桥梁在洪水和滑坡的夹击下垮塌，葡萄园和橄榄林也被冲毁。如果没有人员伤亡那简直是个奇迹。”

    当地媒体表示，意大利中部的河流垮堤后，有几十人在屋顶避难。

    环境部长科拉多-克里尼呼吁筹措更多资金来加固意大利的气候防御工程。天气预报员表示，强降雨等恶劣天气会持续到周二。

    自2000年来，这是威尼斯第4次遭遇有史以来的高水位。当地环境官员表示，近期的水灾都是全球气候变化所致。

    用来保护该市免于屡次受到冬季水灾困扰的防洪工程已经计划了几十年，将于2015年修建完成。