SIEBERG: The city of Venice was built in the marshland of northern Italy by people escaping foreign invaders. But now, 1,500 years later, Venetians cannot escape the fact that their city is sinking. Alessio Vinci reports on what they're trying to do about that.</s>ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): For centuries, water protected Venice from invaders and has been part of its unique beauty. But today, that same water may be giving this ancient city its kiss of death. The combination of increasing sea level and land corrosion is causing weekend floods, know here as "aqualta," giving the impression the city is sinking. The first alarm bell sounded on November the 4th 1966 when a violent storm hit the lagoon, submerging the entire city under almost 2 meters of water. Then, in more recent times, November 2002, with water levels at close to a meter-and-a-half, flooding large portions of Venice. Yet, for millions of tourists visiting Venice each year, all of this has become an attraction and most don't even realize what is really happening.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just quite fascinating, it's an amazing phenomenon.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's pretty. I like it.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, sure, it's a lot of fun for the people.</s>VINCI: Don't say that to Elbeno Girardi (</s>PH). ELBENO GIRARDI, MANAGER, CAFFÈ QUADRI: Not an easy business day, huh?
Venice Sinking Beneath Famous Canals