Liguria was the region hit hardest by the storm, with winds reaching up to 180 kilometres an hour on the coast, causing hundreds of yachts to smash to pieces in the port town of Rapallo.
More than 20,000 Ligurian locals were left without power during the storms, while the Genoa airport was ordered closed as masses of flooded debris crowded its runways, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded.
Meanwhile in Venice, an unusually high tide on Monday put 75 per cent of the lagoon city under water.
Veneto Governor Luca Zaia said the storms have caused “a billion euros worth of damage” in the historic city.
Experts have begun inspecting damage to the mosaic flooring of St Mark’s Basilica, which was completely flooded by 90 centimetres of water following the wild weather.
“The basilica has aged 20 years in just one day, and perhaps I am being overly optimistic about that,” said Carlo Tesserin, the church’s chief administrator.
“It is becoming ever more difficult for us and indeed could become impossible for us to repair the damage, especially in an age of climate change.”
At least 12 people were reported dead as a result of the severe weather.
