Blood-Red Protest at Palmanova Hotel Pool Disturbs Vacationers

Protest in broad daylight: Red dye in the hotel pool

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It was a scene you wouldn't expect on a sunny morning in Palmanova: At around 11:30 a.m., guests and staff noticed that the water in an outdoor pool had turned deep red. Tour guides, sun loungers, children's paddling pools — for a while everything was quiet. I was there later myself; the air smelled of chlorine and a hint of excitement.

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What the protesters said

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Eyewitnesses report that a small group carried signs and loudly declared that the red liquid should remind of the victims in the Middle East. The activists said they wanted the action to highlight the suffering in the conflict and criticized the property's affiliation with an international hotel chain.

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Hotel guests were shocked. Some packed their things immediately, others did not want the vacation to end like this and stayed. Children were shooed away, towels were pulled from the water. The hotel management quickly provided explanations and had the pool pumped out and cleaned – after about an hour the water was clear again.

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Police are investigating, no injuries reported

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Local Police and the Guardia Civil were on the scene quickly. Officially, they say they take the report seriously and will review video footage. Injured were reported only three stressed guests who received medical care; no other injuries were reported. Whether anyone was arrested remained unclear at first; investigations are ongoing.

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Local sentiment: Between anger and understanding

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In conversations with locals I heard two tones: Some condemned the disruption as excessive and dangerous for tourism, others said that the violence far away could not be ignored. On the promenade, a waiter spoke of lost tips that day; an older woman dryly remarked: 'You don't do something like this at the pool, there are children around.'

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The action fits into a series of public protests on the Balearics that have long sparked discussion here as well. For guests and hoteliers, the question remains: How far can protests go when holidays and safety are at stake?

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Authorities continue to urge calm and ask that suspicious observations be reported immediately. We will stay on this and report as soon as new information becomes available.