The tourist behaves obscenely with the Bacchus statue in Florence
Near the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, there are overwhelming scenes: A tourist has taken notice of an oversized statue of the God of Wine, Bacchus. She performs various positions on it. Then her friend also succumbs to a fantasy.
A tourist in Italy has taken things too far literally. International media report on the young woman who recently worked on a Bacchus statue in various poses. She turns her front and back to it, and in some photos, one is glad the statue doesn't break apart. Hanging on it like an infant, she is photographed by her friend - but also by another person who shares the photos online. According to local media, a resident of Florence was understandably disturbed by the scene.
Neighbors, cultural officials, and even politicians have harshly criticized the behavior of the previously anonymous tourist. Patrizia Asproni, the President of the Cultural Organization Confcultura, spoke to Italian media, stating that severe penalties are necessary and a zero-tolerance policy. In Italy, such disrespectful actions occur "because everyone feels they have the right to do as they please."
What about her friend?
The BBC quotes Antonella Rinaldi, the Head of Cultural Heritage for the Florence Municipality, as follows: "Tourists are welcome here, but they must respect our artworks, whether originals or replicas." She adds: "I doubt that this woman – whom I condemn – even understands the difference."
However, she was not the only one who behaved inappropriately. According to "Daily Mail," her friend, who initially took the photos, reportedly joined in the act herself. She was allegedly caught by other tourists kneeling before the statue and apparently mimicking oral sex.
Florence seems to be another city where mass tourism brings negative aspects - although not as publicly documented as excessive drinking at Ballermann on Mallorca. Some users in social media find the action amusing around and at the Wine God statue, but what about the "victim" herself? If a God can endure this "attack," then it is Bacchus ...
In the end, the circle is complete, and we have reached the artwork itself. According to media reports, the Bacchus in question is a copy of a work by the artist Giambologna from 1560. It stands at the base of the Rossi Cerchi Tower near the Ponte Vecchio in Florence.
The friend of the tourist, as reported by the "Daily Mail," also participated in the inappropriate behavior. She was allegedly seen kneeling before the Bacchus statue and mimicking oral sex.
The incident involving the tourists has attracted attention internationally, with media outlets such as BBC and Daily Mail covering the story.
