Fury after tourist scrawles names into Colosseum wall
Fury in Italy after tourist is filmed by English-speaking man scrawling ‘Ivan + Hayley’ into the wall of Rome’s ancient Colosseum
- Bystander filmed as tourist carved into 1,937-year-old walls using a set of keys
- Do you know the people in the video? Email [email protected]
Italians are furious after a tourist was filmed by an English-speaking man scrawling ‘Ivan + Hayley’ into the wall of Rome’s ancient Colosseum.
A bystander filmed the tourist as he carved the names into the stone walls of the 1,937-year-old building using a set of keys.
According to the English-speaking man who recorded the footage, the incident happened last Friday, on June 23.
The man carving the walls, who was wearing shorts and a blue T-shirt, grinned into the camera when he realised he was being filmed.
The video was shared on Reddit with the caption: ‘A*****e tourist carves name in Colosseum in Rome’.
A bystander filmed the tourist as carved the name into the stone walls of the 1,937-year-old building using a set of keys. According to the English-speaking man who recorded the footage, the incident happened last Friday, on June 23
It appears he carved ‘Ivan + Hayley 23’ into the Colosseum walls
In the video, the English-speaking man filming the footage said to the other: ‘Are you serious man? That is f***ed up man. Stupid a*****e.’
Other users were quick to comment sharing their outrage and speculated the man was called ‘Ivan’ and ‘Hayley’ was the his girlfriend.
READ MORE: Vandals target the Colosseum: Exclusion zone could be set up after words are daubed on one of its pillars
They also called on the poster to send the video to police, so the vandalist could be arrested.
If caught he could face a massive fine which in the past has been up to £17,000. He could even face up to a year of jail time.
This is not the first time tourists have been fined for vandalising what is believed to be the world’s largest amphitheatre.
In 2020, an Irish tourist was arrested for allegedly carving his initials into the Colosseum in Rome.
The Carabinieri police said a 32-year-old man was caught by the Colosseum’s private security and immediately reported to officers.
The man’s two initials, about 6 centimeters (2 inches) high, were said to have been carved with a metal point on a pillar of the first floor in September 2020.
The unnamed man was accused of damaging a historical and artistic landmark.
Fines start at £1750 (2,065€) and could even be one year in prison.
Archaeologist Federica Rinaldi, responsible for the ancient Roman amphitheater, said people who carve their initials into the monument want to ‘appropriate’ it.
In the video, the English-speaking man filming the footage said to the other: ‘Are you serious man? That is f***ed up man. Stupid a*****e.’ Other users were quick to comment sharing their outrage and speculated ‘Hayley’ was the man’s girlfriend
In 2014, a Russian tourist was fined £17,000 (20,000€) for carving the letter ‘K’ on a section of brickwork
He added: ‘The Colosseum, like any monument that represents the history of all of us, must be preserved and handed over to future generations.’
The Colosseum, considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world, is a World Heritage Site.
This is along with 54 other Italian sites that comprise the city’s historic centre.
In 2014, a Russian tourist was fined £17,000 (20,000€) for carving the letter ‘K’ on a section of brickwork.
Construction on the Colosseum began sometime between 70 and 72 CE and seated around 50,000 spectators.
They came to watch gladiators in combat with each other and dangerous animals, including lions.
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