Dutch visitor allegedly defaced historic Roman dwelling in Herculaneum.
The statement from the police revealed that a 27-year-old tourist was easily recognized when people at an archaeological site spotted graffiti on a wall. The graffiti had been done with a permanent marker on a wall that was white.
The authorities stated the writing was the man's unique tag.
"Any type of harm hurts our heritage, our beauty, and our identity," Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said in a message. "So, it must be punished severely."
The tourist, who remained anonymous, was brought up on charges of causing damage and altering artistic objects.
Although less well-known than its neighbor, Pompeii, Herculaneum is buried under more ash, shielding its ruins from thieves and preserving the remains remarkably well.
This isn't the first time Italy's ancient landmarks have been vandalised by tourists.
In the previous year, a tourist from England was seen in a video on social media scratched their names and those of their partner on one of the inner walls of Rome's Colosseum.
Also in the previous year, Taggers managed to reach and deface the colossal stone facade of Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II with their art. They weren't detained.
In response to these repeated instances of vandalism, Italy enacted more stringent rules in 2022 for individuals responsible for damaging monuments and cultural sites, imposing fines up to €40,000 (around $43,500) on lawbreakers who damaged historic monuments.
Read also:
The tourist's destructive actions in Herculaneum highlight the need for increased awareness and respect towards historical sites. Visitors should travel mindfully to preserve the beauty and heritage of such places.
- Fear of escalation in the Middle East: US Secretary of State Blinken travels to the region again
- Government circles: US Secretary of State Blinken to travel to Middle East again
- Bridging days 2024: How you can double your vacation this year
- Germany has wanderlust: how tour operators and airlines are looking ahead to the next travel year
