Police in Venice are investigating the source of a phosphorescent green liquid patch that appeared on Sunday in the city’s Grand Canal, amid speculation it was caused by climate protesters.
Gondoliers could be seen punting through the phosphorescent waters while tourists took photographs of the green area, from the Rialto Bridge up and along part of the canal.
The colour was first spotted by local people, tweeted the Veneto region’s president, Luca Zaia. “The prefect has called an urgent meeting with the police to investigate the origin of the liquid,” he said.
The Italian fire service said it was helping the regional environmental protection agency take samples for testing.
Police were looking into whether the green colouring could be a protest by climate activists, reported the local daily La Nuova Venezia.
It is not the first time the Grand Canal has been turned green. In 1968, the Argentine artist Nicolás Garcia Uriburu dyed the waters green with a fluorescent dye during the 34th Venice Biennale in a stunt to promote ecological awareness.
