Police in Italy have spoken to a UK tourist seen on filming carving initials into a wall at the 2,000-year-old Colosseum in Rome. The man was allegedly caught on video and could face up to five years in prison for vandalism and a fine of £13,000.
The man is reported to be from South West England. The video appears to show him scratching two initials into the wall.
Earlier this month, a video surfaced of a man in a flowery shirt using a key to scratch his and a woman's initials into the 1,900 year-old monument.
Carabinieri spokesman and Major Roberto Martina, revealed that after discussing the incident the man shared his "sincere remorse" for his actions.
Major Martina said: "He told us he was very upset by what he had done, and he kept apologising for it, I think he was worried about the consequences of any trial and we explained that he could be jailed for between two and five years and be fined up to 15,000 Euro."
The suspect was caught on camera by an American tourist who posted the footage on social media.
Speaking of their call, Major Martina added: "He had contacted us after we secured his mobile telephone from hotel records and left a message for him to call us. He was naturally worried about the legal implications, and these were all explained to him.
"We didn’t ask him why he did it, that will be for a judge to hear, we just told him that he was a suspect and was part of the investigation. The girl is not part of any cocide what action to take.mplaint so is an innocent party as far as we are concerned although technically, she could be seen as an accessory."
A prosecutor will decide what action to take.
In 2014, a tourist was reportedly fined 20,000 euros - around £17,000 - after scratching their initials into a wall on the same building. One year later, a separate incident saw two women fined after carving their initials and taking a selfie.
Police charged them with "aggravated damage on a building of historical and artistic interest".
The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseo or Anfiteatro Flavio in Italian), is an ancient Roman amphitheater located in the center of Rome, Italy. It is one of the most famous and iconic landmarks in the city and a symbol of ancient Roman engineering and architecture.
Construction of the Colosseum began around 70-72 AD and was completed in 80 AD under the rule of the Emperor Titus. The Colosseum was primarily used for gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, and other public spectacles during the Roman Empire. It could accommodate an estimated audience of 50,000 to 80,000 spectators.
The Colosseum has a distinctive elliptical shape and is made primarily of stone and concrete. It measures approximately 189 meters long, 156 meters wide, and stands over 48 meters tall. The outer façade of the Colosseum originally featured four levels of arches and columns, with the top level adorned with statues.
The interior of the Colosseum had a complex system of seating arrangements, with different sections designated for different social classes of the Roman society. The arena floor, called the "arena," was made of wood covered with sand and was where the gladiatorial combats and other events took place. Beneath the arena were a series of underground chambers and passageways known as the hypogeum, which housed animals, gladiators, and other personnel involved in the spectacles.
Over time, the Colosseum suffered damage due to natural disasters, looting, and vandalism. However, it has undergone extensive restoration and preservation efforts, and today it stands as a popular tourist attraction and an important archaeological site. The Colosseum is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and continues to be a symbol of ancient Roman civilization and the grandeur of the Roman Empire.
