Private adaptation of buildings to coastal flooding in the historic centre of Venice, Italy

The historic centre of Venice is built inside a coastal lagoon which is directly connected to the Adriatic sea at its north-western rim. Within the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, and especially the north-western rim is one of the few areas facing some relevant tidal excursion. Under specific conditions, when combined with specific astronomic and meteorological characteristics, high floods exceed the normal range of tidal excursion and flood urban areas. These occasional flooding events are part of the Venetian history, and to a certain extent, the city is adapted to these events, for example with the choice of building materials which are able to resist against salt water intrusion, protect buildings from humidity raising from the ground, etc. However, climate change related sea level rise will exacerbate this phenomena, making flooding events become more frequent and more intense. This report analyzes a case of spontaneous private adaptation, using data on costs and benefits of measures undertaken by private and public actors to adapt their premises in the historic centre of Venice (Italy) to increasing sea levels.