Swiss tourist caught vandalizing Rome's Colosseum, prompting outrage and calls for preservation

In yet another unfortunate incident of vandalism, a young Swiss tourist has been caught on camera carving her initials into the historic Colosseum in Rome. The incident comes just weeks after a British tourist defaced the ancient monument in a similar manner. Italian authorities have launched an investigation into the matter, highlighting the government's commitment to cracking down on such acts.

The 17-year-old Swiss girl was filmed by an Italian guide as she engraved the letter "N" on one of the walls of the Colosseum. The video footage was subsequently shared by the Italian news agency ANSA on Twitter, sparking outrage and drawing attention to the ongoing issue of vandalism at cultural sites.

Following the incident, the girl and her parents were taken to the police headquarters in Rome for questioning. The Swiss tourist, whose identity has not been disclosed, now faces the possibility of a fine of up to €15,000 for damaging cultural property and a potential prison sentence of up to five years.

This act of vandalism comes in the wake of the Italian government's recent efforts to curb such incidents. In April, the government approved legislation proposed by Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, which imposes fines ranging from €10,000 to €60,000 for those who deface artworks or cultural sites.

Culture Minister Sangiuliano emphasized the economic damage caused by attacks on monuments and artistic sites, highlighting the need for specialized personnel and costly equipment to clean and restore the damaged areas. The legislation aims to hold perpetrators accountable not only morally but also financially.

“The attacks on monuments and artistic sites produce economic damage to all. To clean it up, the intervention of highly specialized personnel and the use of very costly machines are needed. Whoever carries out these acts must assume also the financial responsibility,” the minister stated. 

This incident also follows the widely publicized case of a British tourist named Ivan Dimitrov, who gained notoriety after a video of him carving names into the Colosseum walls went viral. Dimitrov later issued an apology to Roberto Gualtieri, the Mayor of Rome, expressing his ignorance of the monument's historical significance. However, his apology was met with criticism, as officials questioned the level of education required to be unaware of the Colosseum's importance.