Tourist Infuriates In Rome After Carving Fiancée’s Name Into Colosseum
Grand gestures of love might get your partner swooning. Or it might also lead to angry locals trying to hunt you down, as was the case of one man who wanted to showcase how much he loved his fiancée by carving her name into the walls of the Colosseum in Rome.
Visitors captured footage of a man using a key to scratch his partner’s name into one of the internal walls. The video quickly made its way to YouTube, titled “Asshole tourist carves name in Colosseum in Rome.”
As the footage spread, locals and authorities grew determined to track down the couple responsible for defacing the revered monument. One might assume that those committing such an act would take precautions to remain anonymous. However, ironically, the names “Ivan + Hayley 23” etched into the wall became crucial clues that helped narrow down the search.
Reputo gravissimo, indegno e segno di grande inciviltà, che un turista sfregi uno dei luoghi più celebri al mondo, il Colosseo, per incidere il nome della sua fidanzata. Spero che chi ha compiuto questo gesto venga individuato e sanzionato secondo le nostre leggi. pic.twitter.com/p8Jss1GWuY
— Gennaro Sangiuliano (@g_sangiuliano) June 26, 2023
After going through surveillance footage from the Colosseum, Italian authorities identified the man as a fitness instructor from Bristol, England. In response, a note was dispatched to his home stating that he was under investigation.
Interestingly, while the man faces scrutiny, his partner has been excluded from suspicion, as reported by local news outlet Il Messaggero. This incident serves as a reminder of the consequences one may face when desecrating cultural heritage sites and the efforts undertaken to preserve their historical significance.
If apprehended, he faces a fine of €15,000 (US$16,288) and a prison term of up to five years. Tourism minister Daniela Santanche told the Associated Press that she hopes he understands the gravity of the situation and that, hopefully, people understand that they should not act in such a manner when visiting historical sites.
[via The Guardian and Travel + Leisure, Photo 100029861 © Ktree | Dreamstime.com]
