Posted on 11/25/2014 2:22:58 PM PST by BenLurkin
In the latest episode of tourists behaving badly in Rome, a Russian has been fined €20,000 (£15,800) for carving his initial into the Colosseum.
The 42-year-old tourist used a stone to carve a 25cm “K” into a wall inside the ancient amphitheatre. He was caught in the act by a guard and arrested by police, before being fined and given a four-month suspended prison sentence.
The director of the Colosseum, Rossella Rea, said the €20,000 fine was justified as the visitor had damaged “a magnificent and symbolic monument”. “You cannot write on a historic wall, it’s absolutely forbidden,” she said.
However, she denied tourists were running amok at the world-famous site. Out of six million annual visitors, five have been stopped by police this year for scrawling on the amphitheatre. An Australian and his son were caught, as well as a teenager from Brazil and another from Canada. The minors escaped being fined because of their age.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
This really is a-hole-ery of a high order.
Wish they’d do that to all taggers in general, when I went to Rome last year there was graffiti all over the place.
It’s even worse on some of the inner walkway walls in the Cathedral in Florence, Italy: http://lostintranslationdc.blogspot.com/2010/09/florence-churches-and-museums.html
Death to Taggers!
“Death to Taggers!”
Agreed!
Nero wuz hear
Russians!
I guess Putin is skipping Finland and moving on Italy!
/johnny
A small price to pay for having your name carved on one of the 8 Wonders of the Ancient World right next to the names and titles of the original Vandals from a thousand or so years ago
He should be used as live entertainment until he is no longer live entertainment. Bring on the gladiators!!
Feed them to the lions.
“Wish they’d do that to all taggers in general, when I went to Rome last year there was graffiti all over the place.”
I saw it too. I asked the tour guide we were with, “Why do they allow this?” He just ignored me.
I am amazed that in Pompeii you can walk up to the frescos and run your oily have over them, with no one watching (directly). Exposed to the atmosphere, too.
They won’t last long.
Glad none of them were Americans - we are always told that we are the worst-behaved travelers, the "ugly Americans," but it seems in this case there are some people who have us beat!
PING
Thanks a fool in paradise.
$oros says he has $100,000 to spend if that is the going rate per letter...
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