Florence honors 'Mud Angels' on 60th anniversary of flood

The Florence City Council will hold an extraordinary session on November 3 to honor the 'Mud Angels,' the international volunteers who arrived to assist the city following the devastating flood of November 4, 1966. The tribute, titled 'Mud Angels, Yesterday and Today,' will take place in the Salone dei Cinquecento at Palazzo Vecchio.

During the 1966 disaster, the Arno River overflowed, submerging the historic center and leaving behind mud, debris, and fuel contamination. Volunteers from across Italy and the world worked to rescue citizens and protect invaluable cultural assets, particularly books and manuscripts in local libraries and archives.

In addition to the historical volunteers, the council will also welcome a group of young people who assisted with mud removal following the 2023 floods in Campi Bisenzio. Mayor Sara Funaro noted that the commemoration serves to recognize the enduring value of community service and the increasing necessity of civil protection in the face of climate change.