A Kazakh tourist decided to engrave “ALI” on the wall of the House, leading to his arrest by security personnel. He was reported to the police and charged under Italy’s new laws, which also require him to pay for restoration costs.
According to Stuff.co.nz on Friday (June 28, 2024), Italy’s Culture Minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, condemned the act as shameful and foolish.
“Thanks to the new laws we strongly support, the perpetrator will be forced to pay for the restoration of the damage,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that one of their citizens had been detained.
“An Italian was detained for illegally inscribing. After completing all necessary formalities with law enforcement agencies, he was released,” the ministry said.
However, this isn’t the first time tourists have behaved badly at Italian sites. Last year, a tourist was caught on camera carving his fiancée’s name at the Roman Colosseum. Ivan inscribing on the ancient walls.
Shortly after, a Swiss teenager and his family were also recorded carving initials into the Colosseum’s walls.
In 2023, a French tourist was detained by police after being caught carving his and his girlfriend’s initials into the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The specific fine or punishment for the Kazakh tourist has not yet been disclosed.