Tourists Swim in Flooded Venice Square

Heavy rains yesterday raised the water level in Venice to its sixth-highest since record-keeping began in 1872: a high-tide mark of 59.06 inches, the AP reports. But as almost three-quarters of the city flooded and stores, houses, and historic buildings filled with water, tourists didn't let any of that get them down. Instead, some went swimming in iconic St. Mark's Square, Reuters reports. Others wore swimsuits and sat at underwater cafe tables. Heavy rains have also caused flooding in Tuscany, where 200 people were forced to evacuate. The mayor of one hard-hit area calls the damage "devastating." (More Venice stories.)