Advertisement AdvertisementIts collapse has dealt a “devastating blow to the image of Salento and to tourism,” Maurizio Cisternino, mayor of the town of Melendugno, near the fallen arch, told CNN. The site, once a strategic lookout used to warn of pirates, became a magnet for lovers during the late 18th century. Advertisement Advertisement“It’s a tragedy we knew was inevitable, we just didn’t expect it to happen so soon,” he told local media on Sunday. He told CNN that “nature has reclaimed the arch, just as it created it,” and said that resources were needed to tackle the situation along the coast. Advertisement AdvertisementNow gone, the remnants of the arch will be left to wash out at sea, the municipality says.

Source: CNN February 16, 2026 18:25 UTC