Italians are furious after a tourist was filmed by an English-speaking man scrawling ‘Ivan + Hayley’ into the wall of Rome’s ancient Colosseum.
A bystander filmed the tourist as he carved the names into the stone walls of the 1,937-year-old building using a set of keys.
The man can be seen scratching ‘Ivan + Hayley 23’ into one of the bricks, likely trying to mirror the date of their visit, which according to the English-speaking man who recorded the footage, was last Friday, on June 23.
The man carving the walls, who was wearing shorts and a blue T-shirt, grinned into the camera when he realised he was being filmed.
The video was shared on Reddit with the caption: ‘A*****e tourist carves name in Colosseum in Rome’.
A bystander filmed the tourist as carved the name into the stone walls of the 1,937-year-old building using a set of keys. According to the English-speaking man who recorded the footage, the incident happened last Friday, on June 23
It appears he carved ‘Ivan + Hayley 23’ into the Colosseum walls
In the video, the English-speaking man filming the footage said to the other: ‘Are you serious man? That is f***ed up man. Stupid a*****e.’
Other users were quick to comment sharing their outrage and speculated the man was called ‘Ivan’ and ‘Hayley’ was the his girlfriend.
They also called on the poster to send the video to police, so the vandalist could be arrested.
If caught he could face a massive fine which in the past has been up to £17,000. He could even face up to a year of jail time.
This is not the first time tourists have been fined for vandalising what is believed to be the world’s largest amphitheatre.
In 2020, an Irish tourist was arrested for allegedly carving his initials into the Colosseum in Rome.
The Carabinieri police said a 32-year-old man was caught by the Colosseum’s private security and immediately reported to officers.
The man’s two initials, about 2ins high, were said to have been carved with a metal point on a pillar of the first floor in September 2020.
The unnamed man was accused of damaging a historical and artistic landmark.
Fines start at £1750 (2,065€) and could even be one year in prison.
Archaeologist Federica Rinaldi, responsible for the ancient Roman amphitheater, said people who carve their initials into the monument want to ‘appropriate’ it.
He added: ‘The Colosseum, like any monument that represents the history of all of us, must be preserved and handed over to future generations.’
The Colosseum, considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world, is a World Heritage Site.
This is along with 54 other Italian sites that comprise the city’s historic centre.
In January 2017, the Colosseum was vandalised with black spray paint, officials have said.
In the video, the English-speaking man filming the footage said to the other: ‘Are you serious man? That is f***ed up man. Stupid a*****e.’ Other users were quick to comment sharing their outrage and speculated ‘Hayley’ was the man’s girlfriend
In 2014, a Russian tourist was fined £17,000 (20,000€) for carving the letter ‘K’ on a section of brickwork
In January 2017, the Colosseum was vandalised with black spray paint, officials have said
The name ‘Balto’ and the word ‘Morte’ (death) were sprayed onto the pillar overnight.
Two Brazilian men who attempted to climb over a gate into the Colosseum on the same day were apprehended by the authorities when they fell 13 feet (four metres), one fracturing his hip bone.
CCTV was studied to see if they were responsible for the the grafitti.
Mr Prosperetti said: ‘We worry that this could become a game and people could start competing over it.’
In 2015, two American tourists were arrested for carving initials into the Colosseum.
Before they were spotted, the women, 21 and 25, were able to carve a J and an N into a brick wall on the first floor of the west side of the Colosseum.
In 2015, two American tourists were arrested for carving initials into the Colosseum. Before they were spotted, the women, 21 and 25, were able to carve a J and an N into a brick wall on the first floor of the west side of the Colosseum
After carving the eight-inch high letters, the women posed together for a selfie.
The women, just two of six million tourists that flock to the Colosseum every year, used a coin to engrave the letters, La Stampa reported.
They are said to have broken away from their tour group before – but other tourists saw what had happened and alerted security.
Police charged the women with ‘aggravated damage on building of historical and artistic interest’, according to Republica.
After they were caught, the women apologized to Piazza Dante police and Captain Lorenzo Iacobone.
They said: ‘We apologize for what we did. We regret it but we did not imagine it was something so serious. We’ll remember for a lifetime.’
According to the Guardian, the section damaged dates back to the 1800s – a key period of restoration.
A spokesman for the Special Superintendency for the Archaeological Heritage of Rome is quoted as saying: ‘It’s not an original wall but it’s nevertheless antique.’
In 2014, a Russian tourist was fined £17,000 (20,000€) for carving the letter ‘K’ on a section of brickwork.
Construction on the Colosseum began sometime between 70 and 72 CE and seated around 50,000 spectators.
They came to watch gladiators in combat with each other and dangerous animals, including lions.
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