Climate activists in Italy throw mud on St. Mark's Basilica in new act of protest

By Giada Zampano

ROME (AA) - A small group of climate activists on Thursday splattered mud over the facade of Venice's world-famous St. Mark's Basilica as part of a protest they dubbed "a fire alarm," Italian media reported.

The activists used fire extinguishers to spray liquid mud over the walls of the church from the 11th century, shouting slogans calling for political action to tackle the climate crisis before they were taken away by local police.

"We are here to sound the fire alarm," they said.

"Venice will soon be underwater, there will no longer be any of this. It will be covered in mud and we will die," one of the activists shouted. "If you love this city as much as we do, join us in asking the government to eliminate fossil fuels."

"Those of you who are here to take photos and visit this church today are privileged," another activist said, according to local media. "You are the last ones who will be able to see it above sea level."

The protest was slammed as a "very serious and shameful act" by Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Enough is enough, it is legitimate to express dissent, but always respecting the law and our cultural and religious heritage."

The demonstration in Venice is the latest in a series of similar acts of protest staged in other Italian cities, including Rome and Florence, where climate activists attacked famous cultural and artistic landmarks to raise awareness over the environmental crisis.