Italy: Venice’s floating Nativity swept away by storm

Venice: A floating Nativity scene that made headlines around the world after it appeared in the waters around Burano, in the Venice lagoon, has been completely destroyed by a storm.

Almost nothing remains of the magical scene which comprised a crib and 60 wooden shapes representing Nativity figures and animals, reports Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

The waves and strong winds have carried away the silhouette figures, whose feet were level with the water for several hours a day during Christmas week.

The man responsible for creating the highly original scene – local greengrocer Francesco Orazio – has appealed to sailors to salvage the missing figures if they see them and to take them ashore to Burano.

Orazio says he plans to recreate the scene in time for the feast of the Epiphany, or La Befana, on 6 January, according to local media reports.