Italy's famous Lovers' Arch collapses into the sea on Valentine's Day [View all]

Last edited Mon Feb 16, 2026, 11:24 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: the guardian

Rock structure which served as backdrop to countless proposals disappears into the Adriatic after storm
Lorenzo Tondo in Palermo Mon 16 Feb 2026 04.48 EST

The rocky arch, one of the best-known natural landmarks on the Adriatic coast, got its name as it served as a backdrop for wedding proposals, selfies and postcards, and was one of the most recognisable symbols of the Salento, one of Italy’s most heavily visited tourist areas.

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According to local authorities, strong winds, rough seas and intense rainfall in recent days progressively weakened the rock structure until its final collapse on Saturday. It is the most significant damage inflicted by coastal erosion on the landscape of the Salento.

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Mediterranean cyclones, known as medicanes, include Cyclone Harry which struck in January, have been devastating ports, homes and roads, reshaping the structure of coastlines. Medicanes are warm-core systems that are becoming increasingly frequent in the Mediterranean, driven by rising sea temperatures linked to the climate emergency.

“With the Mediterranean [experiencing] among its hottest years on record in 2025, warmer seas are supercharging the atmosphere and fuelling extreme events,” said Christian Mulder, a professor of ecology and climate emergency at the University of Catania in Sicily....................


Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/16/italy-lovers-arch-puglia-collapse-adriatic-sea-valentines-day?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

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Maybe this devastating event will convince some people there is a #climatecrisis!!

Italy’s famous Lovers’ Arch collapses into the sea on Valentine’s Day

Rock structure which served as backdrop to countless proposals disappears into the Adriatic after storm
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-02-16T13:36:44.954Z

The famous arch of the sea stacks at Sant’Andrea in Melendugno, Puglia, Italy, popularly known as Lovers’ Arch, collapsed on Valentine’s Day after strong storm surges and heavy rain swept across southern Italy.