Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan Vandalized by Three Writers

On August 7, 2023, at 10 PM, three young individuals dressed in black climbed the entrance arch of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II facing Piazza Duomo in Milan and spray-painted the facade with green and blue paint. They left their signatures, arrows, a star, and the word 'king' with a heart. Witnesses, including tourists and passersby, expressed disapproval with whistles and shouts. Firefighters and police intervened, but the vandals fled and have not been apprehended. The incident follows a similar act on March 9, 2023, when environmental activists from Ultima Generazione spray-painted the statue of Vittorio Emanuele II in Piazza Duomo. Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano condemned the act as 'very serious' and announced that a bill against eco-vandals, already approved by the Senate, will soon become law to impose stricter penalties. The article criticizes Italy's inadequate anti-graffiti legislation, noting that the last attempt to strengthen such laws was in 2008 under the Berlusconi government but was blocked by the Lega party, whose members were themselves under trial for vandalism. This has made Italy a haven for vandals from across Europe. The facade was cleaned by the morning of August 9, 2023, by workers from the contracting company. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala commented on Instagram, calling the act 'a demonstration of profound ignorance' and hoping the perpetrators are quickly identified.