Bourbon Arch Collapse in Naples: A Preventable Loss of Architectural Heritage

The Bourbon Arch, located on Naples' waterfront, collapsed on January 2, 2021, following years of neglect and postponed safety actions. Although the Soprintendenza of Naples mandated restoration by May 27, 2020, actual work did not commence until September 2020. Originally constructed during the 1869 expansion post-Italian unification, the arch withstood a storm in late December 2020 but ultimately fell during another tempest. A webinar hosted by Musae, led by Francesco Carignani and featuring professors Renata Picone and Alessandro Castagnaro, addressed the incident and emphasized the importance of proactive conservation. Castagnaro highlighted the severe neglect of Naples' architectural heritage, pointing out unfulfilled restoration agreements and vulnerable structures. Additionally, on January 20, 2021, the church of Santa Maria del Rosario experienced facade damage due to earlier earthquake impacts.