A holidaymaker from the UK has been hit with a £426 (€500) fine after making an unexpected mistake on holiday. A 42-year-old man received the fine after he was spotted dipping his feet in a fountain in Rome.
At the time of the incident, the Brit was visiting Rome's Piazza di Spagna while on holiday. A member of security at the Barcaccia, which sits at the foot of the Spanish Steps, caught him using the fountain to cool his feet off in the hot weather.
While tourists are allowed to use the designated free drinking water fountains while visiting the landmarks, going into the fountains is not permitted. In addition to receiving a fine for breaking the rules, The Sun reports that the holidaymaker was also issued with a temporary ban from returning to the area.
READ MORE: Tax error means thousands could be owed £3k by HMRC
This isn't the first time someone has found themselves in trouble over their treatment of the city's historic fountains. Amid recent soaring temperatures, there have been several cases of people jumping into the region's iconic fountains, including the Trevi Fountain.
There are strict rules in place across the vast majority of Italy's tourist hotspots, with many visitors being caught out over the years. For example, in Venice, tourists can be fined £250 for failing to buy a day pass to visit.
A particularly memorable incident occurred in 2015 when six Brits who worked for a UK environmental firm were arrested after skinny dipping in a fountain in Rome. A group of four men and two women from EDP were in the city for a variety of team building and training exercises.
Following the news, a spokesman for EDP released a statement confirming that the company was considering disciplinary action against those involved.
READ NEXT:
- Margot Robbie confirmed for Neighbours comeback
- Jade Goody's son Bobby Brazier joins EastEnders cast
- Vicky Pattison 'denied' Geordie Shore break after desperate plea
- Laura Whitmore gets Ofcom complaints for 'shaming' Love Island star
- Dame Deborah James' BBC podcast wins major award less than a month after Bowelbabe's death
