Severe weather in Italy damages World Heritage Site

Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The south of Italy was threatened Tuesday with severe weather, including a rare water spout off the port of Salerno.

The city, about 160 miles southeast of Rome, saw the spout close to shore that didn't reach land and didn't cause any damage, other than some broken windows.

A hail storm earlier in the same region caused more damage, Amalfie Notizie reported.

In the coastal town of Cutro, Calabria, 300 miles southeast of Rome, a tornado cause some damage inland, removing roofs from a school and bank, and uprooting trees and harming vehicles, Corriere della Sera reported.

Also near Cutro, a tornado hit a commuter train as it was close to crossing the Roccabernarda station. Two passengers were hospitalized for minor injuries, the newspaper added.

In Caserta, a tourist area 110 miles southeast of Rome, saw an intense rainstorm damage the south façade of the Bourbon Royal Palace. Strong winds there nearly created a tornado, said Fabio Carapezza, director of a unit in charge of protecting cultural patrimony in Italy.

Caserta was built in the 1700s to house the Bourbon kings that ruled the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which covered parts of Italy until 1861. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.