Just weeks after a British tourist was filmed carving into Rome's Colosseum, another tourist has been spotted allegedly carving a mark into the ancient landmark.
The tourist in question is said to be a girl from Switzerland who is visiting the Italian capital with her family.
But instead of enjoying the likes of the Colosseum in a respectful way, the 17-year-old girl was caught allegedly carving her initial into the sight on Friday (14 July).
As per Italian media reports, the unnamed girl is said to have carved the letter 'N' into one of the bricks of the Colosseum and was filmed by Italian tour guide David Battaglino while doing so.
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The tour guide has been speaking to the local press in recent days, claiming people were shouting at the girl for what she was doing.
However, Battaglino claims once the girl realised she had angered many locals, she shrugged and walked off with a grin on her face.
"It is the first time I have managed to film an act of vandalism at the Colosseum but in six years I have seen dozens, there are also those who rip off parts of the wall," he told Repubblica Roma.
"They even spat on me once for scolding a boy."
Battaglino noticed the girl after a tourist on one of his sightseeing tours pointed her out.
The tour guide says he approached her and asked the girl if she wanted a round of applause for what she had done before approaching the girl's parents.
He informed them what their daughter was doing is illegal, though the parents apparently didn't take much notice of it.
Battaglino took a photo of the family, with security guards at the scene phoning the police.
Subsequently, the girl and her family were taken in for police questioning, according to local media - and a big punishment could be coming their way.
That is because the act of vandalism could be punished with a fine of up to 15,000 euros (£12,900) or at worst, two to five years in jail.
LADbible has reached out to Italian law enforcement for comment.
The incident comes just a matter of weeks after a British tourist carved his girlfriend’s name into the Colosseum.
Ivan Dimitrov, a 27-year-old fitness instructor living in Bristol, went viral after footage of him seemingly etching what appears to be 'Ivan + Hayley 23' into one of the bricks of Rome’s Colosseum.
Dimitrov has since written a letter of apology to Roberto Gualtieri, the Mayor of Rome, saying that only now does he realise ‘the seriousness of the deed committed'.
Topics: World News
Callum Jones