"Why on Valentine's Day..." The tourist attraction "Lovers' Arch" collapsed due to a storm, leaving the mayor disheartened by its pitiful state.
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"Kissing under the arch means being bound forever" - The sacred place of couples around the world unexpectedly reached its end.
A natural rock arch, long beloved as the "Arch of Lovers" along Italy's Adriatic coast, collapsed and disappeared into the sea on the 16th due to a storm that occurred over the Valentine's Day weekend.
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The collapsed structure was the Santa Andrea Faragioni Arch, located off the coast of Torre Santa Andrea in the Salento region of Puglia. Surrounded by limestone cliffs and turquoise blue sea, it had maintained its shape for centuries. Because of the legend that couples who kiss under the arch will be united by eternal love, many couples visited there every year.
Although it was a "sacred place" for such couples, the arch finally collapsed due to bad weather and violent waves, which weakened its fragile limestone (calcarenite) structure.
Mayor Maurizio Cisternino of Meldano said in an interview with CNN, "It's a devastating blow to the image and tourism of Salento. It feels like my heart is being torn apart," expressing his shock at the loss of the landmark.
This arch was formed by the wind and waves carving the cliff over a long period of time. It was once used as a strategic observation point to watch for approaching pirates, but by the late 18th century, it had transformed into a popular spot for lovers. In recent years, its popularity has greatly increased due to the spread through social media, making it a popular tourist attraction.
Mayor Cisternino revealed to local media that concerns about coastal erosion have been raised before, and in 2024, local authorities applied for a $4.5 million conservation grant aimed at combating coastal erosion, but the funding was not secured.
The mayor said to CNN, "Nature has taken back what nature created. The landscape that existed 30 years ago is no longer there."
Claire Dods
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