He faces a fine of up to 60.000 euros: Tourist caught carving initials on a 2.000-year-old building in Pompeii
The perfectly preserved streets and still existing houses in the ancient city of Pompeii offer a unique opportunity to see how people lived almost a century ago 2000 years. Frozen in time, this city provides memories to last a lifetime.
But the memories were not enough for one British tourist, who this week was caught giving them engraves his and his family's initials in one of the 2.000-year-old townhouses.
It is said that The 37-year-old Briton, who has not yet been named, did five carvings – his family's initials and the date August 7 – with a blunt object on the wall The House of the Vestal Virgins.
Photos of the damage show letters scratched into the facade next to the front door, which was painted red nearly 2.000 years ago.
The letters are clearly visible "JW LMW MW" high on the wall and "MYLAW 07/08/24" below.
Employees at the scene noticed the graffiti and called the police. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, the husband he apologized, saying he had written his initials and those of his two daughters to leave a mark of their visit to the site.
The archaeological park declined to comment to CNN. However, in June, when a tourist from Kazakhstan was caught carving his own initials in the House of the Cei Family in the ancient city, the director of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtrigel, said that the tourist will have to pay for the restoration of the wall.
The case has been forwarded to the local court at Torre Annunziata, near Naples, as "damage to artistic heritage", accusation which provides fine from 20.000 to 60.000 euros and possible imprisonment for up to five years, thanks to laws which were sharpened in January.
Acts of destruction or damage to cultural or landscape heritage are covered by law. The lesser penalties for damage and disturbance of heritage sites may impose fines of 10.000 to 40.000 euros.
The vast site has often been the victim of rude tourists, who have carved their initials and stolen objects since excavations began in the 1700s. In 2022, an Australian tourist even rode a moped around the ancient site.
Tourists seem to be particularly misbehaving in Italy, a country whose top spots focus on art or archeology – and are therefore more sensitive than most.
