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'Lovers' Arch' collapses on Valentine's Day on Italy's Adriatic coast
The iconic rock formation popular for proposals collapsed due to weeks of storms and coastal erosion, with 53% of Puglia’s coastline at risk, geologists say.
- On Sunday the Arco di Sant'Andrea in Melendugno collapsed into rubble, visitors found its absence on Sunday morning, leaving a pile of rocks and a sea stack on the Adriatic coast.
- Officials said storm-driven erosion, including the tail end of storm Oriana, accelerated damage to the arch which was already weakened after recent violent storms in Southern Italy.
- The arch had long been a popular backdrop for proposals, with Instagram drawing thousands of couples and hotels named for it, while Melendugno Mayor Maurizio Cisternino called the loss `This is an unwanted Valentine's Day gift`.
- The municipality said remaining rubble will be left to wash out at sea, affecting the site's future appearance and tourism, following Decaro's statement on Monday.
- Despite earlier grant applications, local authorities failed to secure a $2 billion preservation fund, while geologist Giovanni Caputo estimates 53 percent of Puglia's coastline is at erosion risk, amid weeks of violent storms.
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64 Articles
By Barbie Latza Nadeau. The iconic "Arch of Lovers," one of Italy's most romantic coastal landmarks, collapsed on February 14th, a victim of the intense storms battering the region. The collapse of this natural structure on Valentine's Day, famous as a favorite spot for thousands of couples, has left the local community dismayed; an event that authorities have bitterly described as "a blow to the heart" of the national heritage.
The striking rock formation succumbed to the persistent heavy weather in southern Italy in recent weeks.
A famous standing training from Italy, called "The Arch of Lovers", was completed by Valentine's Day, after all days of torrential rains and strong winds, reports BBC.
Italy’s famous ‘Lovers’ Arch’ collapses on Valentine’s Day
A powerful Valentine’s Day storm destroyed a centuries-old seaside arch in southern Italy long associated with romance, dealing a blow to local tourism and highlighting concerns about coastal erosion and extreme weather.
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