A well – known rock structure called the “Lovers’ Arch” fell down on Valentine’s Day after several days of bad weather.
The natural formation, which was part of the Sant’Andrea sea stacks along the Adriatic coast in southern Italy, was frequently used as a background for and wedding proposals, as reported by Reuters.
“This is an unwelcome Valentine’s Day present,” Maurizio Cisternino, the mayor of the neighboring town of Melendugno, was quoted as saying to a local newspaper.
Cisternino described the collapse as a “very severe blow” for the area after strong winds and rough seas.
“Nature has reclaimed what it created,” Cisternino said.
Photos taken at the site showed a heap of rubble in an area where the arch used to tower above the water.
Officials are currently warning that other sections of the rocky coastline are in danger of collapsing, with cracks visible along the cliffs.
The news agency also stated that storms and heavy rains in recent days have damaged other parts of Italy’s coastline along the Ionian Sea, harming beach structures and causing small cliff collapses from Gallipoli to Ugento.