A Swiss teenager vandalized the Colosseum on Friday just weeks after another tourist carved a love note to his girlfriend on a wall of the famous 1,951-year-old amphitheater.
The Swiss teenager, who has not been identified, was on vacation with her family when she started carving her name on a wall, according to the local news agency Cronus DNAwho first reported the alleged vandalism on July 15.
The teenager was caught by an Italian tour guide who tipped off Colosseum security, according to the Italian news agency ANSA reported. The news agency obtained a video of the teenager about to engrave her name.
The Italian Carabinieri Police were called, according to ADN Kronos. Artnet News has contacted the Carabinieri for more information.
The girl could face jail time and a fine of around $16,854, media reported.
Last month Ivan Dimitrov, 27, a Bulgarian national living in the UK, was filmed engraving “Ivan + Hayley ’23” in a wall of the Colosseum.
Dimitrov looks up at one point, sees he’s being filmed, and smiles when the person recording him calls him an “asshole” as he walks away.
In 2014, a 42-year-old Russian tourist was caught carving the letter “K” on a wall in the Colosseum and was given a four-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of around $22,460.
Italy’s Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano condemned Dimitrov’s alleged vandalism but has yet to comment on the latest incident.
“I consider it extremely serious, undignified and a sign of great incivility that a tourist defaces one of the most famous places in the world, the Colosseum, to engrave the name of his girlfriend,” Sangiuliano said. in a tweettranslated from Italian.
“I hope that whoever committed this act will be identified and punished in accordance with our laws.”
In April, Sangiuliano announced that the country’s Council of Ministers, the country’s executive branch of government, had approved a law that would impose fines ranging from about $11,221 to about $67,328 for those who vandalize art sites and cultural.
“Attacks on monuments and art sites cause economic damage to the community,” Sangiuliano said. in a report at the time.
“Cleaning requires the intervention of highly specialized personnel and the use of very expensive machinery. Those who commit these acts must also bear financial responsibility.
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