On November 4, 1966, both Florence and Venice were devastated by floods: Florence by the torrent of mud-laced waters from the Arno and Venice by an unequalled high water caused by heavy rains, wind and tides that put the city under more than 6 feet of fresh and salt water, stranding it for days. Now, as the 50th anniversary of the flood approaches, two American-based non-profits have joined forces to restore some of the countless damaged artworks still awaiting attention.

Each of the organizations will restore works by in the other's city. Save Venice will restore 48 sketches by Venetian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1692–1770) housed in Florence's Horne Museum, while Friends of Florence has pledged to restore the fourteenth-century The Virgin Mary on the Throne with Baby Jesus and Angels, a painting by the Maestro di Badia a Isola (active 1290–1320), a contemporary of the Sienese Duccio di Buoninsegna, in Venice's Palazzo Cini Gallery.

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Source: http://www.theflorentine.net/