Venice was reeling from some of its worst ever flooding after three-quarters of the city was left submerged following high tides.
Tourists and locals had to navigate water levels of up to five feet – the worst in a decade – before the floods receded on Tuesday.
Business owners were pictured sweeping flood water away as the city attempted to return to normal.
Meanwhile, strong winds wrecked terrace bars and hotels, with debris and trash scattered across the city.
Venice frequently floods when high winds push in water from the lagoon. But Monday's levels were the highest since December 2008.
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said underwater barriers that are being erected in the lagoon would have prevented the inundation.
But the project, nicknamed Moses, has been beset by cost overruns and corruption scandals.
Much of Italy has been hit by heavy rain and strong winds with nine people reported to have died across the country.
The fatalities are reported to include a woman who was buried by mud when a landslide hit her home and then a firefighter who was struck by a tree while responding to the emergency in the northern region of Trentino-Alto Adige.
A man also died while wind-surfing in Emilia-Romagna. Other fatalities occurred in Naples, Liguria and Lazio.
Additional reporting by agencies.
