Image: Luigi Costantini/AP/picturealliance/Reproduction
At the end of last month, on May 28th to be precise, one of the most beautiful postcards in Europe attracted attention with a different colour.
To the surprise of locals and tourists alike, the big ones Venice Canal turned fluorescent green! The intriguing color prompted experts to look for the motivation for what happened.
Veneto Regional President Luca Zaia soon announced the situation on his official Twitter profile:
“This morning a patch of phosphorescent green liquid appeared on the Grand Canal in Venice, according to some residents near the Rialto Bridge. The mayor has called an urgent meeting with police to investigate the source of the liquid.”
Following the report of local residents and the attention of the authorities, water samples from the canal have been collected for laboratory tests by the Veneto Regional Agency for Prevention and Environmental Protection (ARPAV).
The colourway was visible in different parts of the city, from the Rialto Bridge to the Grand Canal, making headlines around the world.
What is the reason for the color change?
Image: Luigi Costantini/AP/picturealliance/Reproduction
According to analyzes performed by Arpav, the tests showed “no presence of toxic elements in the analyzed samples”. The authority determined that the discoloration was due to this fluoresceinthat had been poured into the water.
This substance is nontoxic and has a coloring effect. It is mainly used to detect contamination or leaks in water systems.
#Venice zonaRialto#presenza colorazioneverdeanomala#Arpav sul posta per environmental agreement with @vigilidelfuoco It is @Pol_Municipale pic.twitter.com/7v71QodfNA
ARPA VENETO (@arpaveneto) May 28, 2023
Although no group has claimed responsibility so far, research suggests there is a possibility the event was provoked by some sort of environmental protest. Because Europe is currently experiencing a wave of demonstrations such as the Fontana di Trevi in Rome, which was painted black by activists.
It’s not the first time Venice has witnessed this type of protest. In 1968, during the 34th Venice Biennale, the Argentine artist Nicolás García Uriburu colored the canal green to draw popular attention to ecology.