Lebanese tourist carves initials into Colosseum
A 22-year-old Lebanese tourist is in hot water after being caught red-handed vandalising the Colosseum.
The young woman was spotted this weekend by Colosseum security guards carving the initials 'H.A' into one of the iconic pillars of the Flavian Amphitheater with a coin, Il Messaggero reported.
After being stopped by the guards, she was handed over to the police, who charged the vandal with malicious mischief.
Though shocking, is just the latest in a long list of similar cases. The Colosseum's fame seems to hold a particular appeal for many tourists who wish leave their mark on the ancient ruins without considering it to be an act of vandalism.
Just last August, a 25-year-old man and 26-year-old German woman were caught by security guards carving their whole names into the Colosseum with a coin.
But it's not just people looking to leave their eternal mark that is damaging the Colloseum.
In March last year, a 15-year-old Canadian school girl removed a brick from the Flavian Amphitheater and tried to make off with it in her rucksack as a souvenir.
The penalties for damaging a priceless monument, not to mention a national symbol of Italy, can be very heavy indeed.
Visitors to Rome would do well to take heed the story of Akaev Kazbek, a 42-year-old Russian tourist who was sentenced to four months in jail and fined €20,000 after carving a large letter 'K' into a wall of the Colosseum.
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The young woman was spotted this weekend by Colosseum security guards carving the initials 'H.A' into one of the iconic pillars of the Flavian Amphitheater with a coin, Il Messaggero reported.
After being stopped by the guards, she was handed over to the police, who charged the vandal with malicious mischief.
Though shocking, is just the latest in a long list of similar cases. The Colosseum's fame seems to hold a particular appeal for many tourists who wish leave their mark on the ancient ruins without considering it to be an act of vandalism.
Just last August, a 25-year-old man and 26-year-old German woman were caught by security guards carving their whole names into the Colosseum with a coin.
But it's not just people looking to leave their eternal mark that is damaging the Colloseum.
In March last year, a 15-year-old Canadian school girl removed a brick from the Flavian Amphitheater and tried to make off with it in her rucksack as a souvenir.
The penalties for damaging a priceless monument, not to mention a national symbol of Italy, can be very heavy indeed.
Visitors to Rome would do well to take heed the story of Akaev Kazbek, a 42-year-old Russian tourist who was sentenced to four months in jail and fined €20,000 after carving a large letter 'K' into a wall of the Colosseum.
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