Tourist under fire for carving names into the Colosseum
A disturbing incident of vandalism has shocked officials and locals in Rome, as a tourist was caught on camera carving his and his girlfriend’s names into the historic Colosseum. The video, which has since gone viral on social media, has sparked outrage and an intense search for the perpetrator.
After the disrespectful and downright criminal offense, Italy’s minister of culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, showed his disappointment and condemnation of the act, posting a blurred photo and video on Twitter. The footage clearly shows the names “Ivan+Haley 23” engraved into the ancient structure’s brick wall. According to news portal Yahoo! Finance, the minister also expressed his hope that the perpetrator will be identified and sanctioned according to the Italian laws.
Understandably alarmed by the incident, the Italian authorities quickly launched an investigation after the video went viral online over the last week. Though his name and nationality have not been released, if caught, the suspect will probably face serious consequences for his actions, risking a 15.000€ (minimum) fine or even a five-year prison sentence!
This incident is far from being first of its kind at the iconic Colosseum, with previous instances of similar behavior having taken place over the last decade. In 2014, a Russian tourist was arrested and later fined 20.000€ (and given a four-month suspended sentence) after being apprehended by private security at the historic landmark and subsequently handed over to Italian police. Similarly, in 2020, an Irish tourist was arrested and charged with damaging a historical and artistic landmark after carving his initials into a pillar at the Colosseum. These acts of vandalism have garnered widespread criticism, reminding visitors of the need to preserve and respect the monument’s historical significance.
As of now, the search for the infamous tourist continues, with Italian authorities determined to bring him to justice and ensure that such acts of vandalism are met with appropriate penalties and never repeated again. As a footnote, we all hope this incident serves as a reminder to all visitors to treat historical landmarks with reverence and respect, safeguarding them for generations to come.
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