Tens of thousands of flag-waving, whistle-blowing protesters flooded Florence today to denounce a possible US-led war against Iraq.
More than 150,000 people from across Europe - including up to 500 from Ireland - joined the demonstration, holding aloft a sea of rainbow-coloured, multi-lingual banners.
The march marks the climax of the first European Social Forum, which brought together anti-globalisation campaigners from across the continent for four days of talks and concerts.
Organisers estimated that some 300,000 people had joined the protest, and said they had to kick off the march an hour ahead of schedule because of the huge press of people building up in streets.
Although some 7,000 police are on call, the security forces have so far maintained an extremely low profile, with most of their number held in reserve some distance from the seven kilometre rally route.
The march was planned months ago, but organisers said it had been given added relevance by yesterday's unanimous vote in the UN Security Council, which handed Iraq one last chance to disarm or face almost certain war. "It's a scandalous resolution," said Sean Murray, 29, a member of a group called the Workers' Revolution.