Battling floods and protecting the historic monuments from the elements is an ongoing challenge in the city of Venice, Italy. The government has begun testing its first multi-billion euro flood barricade to shield Venice - which stands on a lagoon and is spread across a series of small islands -- from rising waters.

It’s this sort of scene - not uncommon in Venice’s winding streets and alleys - that the latest experiment is setting out to avoid.

It’s famed for its canals - but floods are threatening its future.

This was the city earlier this week in the season known as "acqua alta" - or high tide.

At a cost of five billion euros, the Moses barrier system is made of gates formed by movable barriers which will -- temporarily -- separate the lagoon from the sea.

It’s intended to start working when water levels hit two meters above sea level:

"Well, the benefit of the city is that no more floods will arrive and that all the ground floors of the city, which are usually washed out and destroyed by these tides, will be safe." Hermes Redi, chief executive of Consorzio Venezia Nuova said.

Since the beginning of the 20th century the number of high tides swamping Venice has increased steadily - in part due to global warming.

The ground is lowering and sea levels are rising.

The worst damage on record was reported in 1966 - when eighty percent of the city was inundated:

"The city is not a theme park, it’s a living city, a city which lives in the modern world, and this project shows that." Venice mayor Giorgio Orsnoi said.

Some Venetians have argued it’s a waste of money, and there’s no guarantee it will work.

While the venture has also been widely applauded - there have been warnings that further funding - millions of euros of it -- is required to protect jobs and see it through to fruition:

If it follows its course to completion in 2016, it’s hoped as many as 78 mobile Moses flood blocks will protect the UNESCO site - from the worst wear and tear.

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