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February 16, 2026
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
TL;DR
- The Lovers' Arch, a famous natural landmark in Melendugno, Puglia, Italy, collapsed on Valentine's Day.
- The collapse was caused by strong storm surges and heavy rain battering southern Italy.
- The arch was a well-known symbol of the Salento region and a popular tourist attraction.
- Coastal erosion, exacerbated by Mediterranean cyclones (medicanes), is identified as the cause.
- Rising sea temperatures linked to the climate emergency are fueling these increasingly frequent and intense weather events.
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