Anger in Italy after tourist is filmed by English-speaking man scribbling ‘Ivan + Hayley’ into wall of ancient Rome’s Colosseum
- Bystander filmed as a tourist cuts into 1937-year-old walls with a set of keys
- Do you know the people in the video? Email miriam.kuepper@mailonline.co.uk
Italians are furious after a tourist was filmed by an English-speaking man scribbling ‘Ivan + Hayley’ in the wall of the ancient Colosseum in Rome.
A bystander filmed the tourist using a set of keys to carve names into the stone walls of the 1937-year-old building.
According to the English-speaking man who recorded the footage, the incident happened last Friday, June 23.
The man who was carving out the walls, who was wearing shorts and a blue T-shirt, grinned into the camera when he realized 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 using a set of keys to carve the name into the stone walls of the 1937-year-old building. According to the English-speaking man who recorded the footage, the incident happened last Friday, June 23
Looks like he carved ‘Ivan + Hayley 23’ into the walls of the Colosseum
In the video, the English-speaking man filming the footage said to the other, “Are you serious man? That’s rotten man. Stupid jerk.’
Other users were quick to respond, sharing their outrage and speculating that the man’s name was “Ivan” and “Hayley” was his girlfriend.
They also called on the poster to send the video to the police so that the vandalist could be apprehended.
If caught, he could face a huge fine, which has reached up to £17,000 in the past. He could even get a year in prison.
It is not the first time tourists have been fined for vandalizing what is believed to be the largest amphitheater in the world.
In 2020, an Irish tourist was arrested for allegedly carving his initials into the Colosseum in Rome.
Carabinieri police said a 32-year-old man was caught by private security at the Colosseum and immediately reported to officers.
The man’s two initials, about 2 inches high, are said to have been carved with a metal spike on a first floor pillar in September 2020.
The unnamed man was accused of damaging a historical and artistic monument.
Fines start at £1,750 (€2,065) and can be up to a year in prison.
Archaeologist Federica Rinaldi, responsible for the ancient Roman amphitheatre, said people who carve their initials on the monument want to “own” it.
In the video, the English-speaking man filming the footage said to the other, “Are you serious man? That’s rotten man. Stupid jerk.’ Other users were quick to respond, sharing their outrage and speculating that ‘Hayley’ was the man’s girlfriend
In 2014, a Russian tourist was fined £17,000 (€20,000) for carving out the letter ‘K’ on a piece of masonry
He added: “The Colosseum, like any monument that represents the history of all of us, must be preserved and handed down to future generations.”
Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the Colosseum is a World Heritage Site.
This is along with 54 other Italian sites that form the historic center of the city.
In 2014, a Russian tourist was fined £17,000 (€20,000) for carving the letter ‘K’ on a piece of masonry.
Construction of the Colosseum began sometime between 70 and 72 CE and could seat about 50,000 spectators.
They came to see gladiators fighting each other and dangerous animals, including lions.