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ITALY – An expensive photo. A German tourist climbed the Fountain of Neptune in Florence to pose next to the sea god, despite barriers protecting the 16th-century sculpture. He managed to leave with his two friends before the alarm went off, but surveillance cameras captured the scene on the night of September 3-4. as seen in the video at the top of the article.
Italian authorities identified and found him. The 22-year-old tourist has to pay a heavy fine. By descending from the statue, he caused damage estimated by the community at 5,000 euros, reports the Italian newspaper La Nazione. The cast on the right front leg of one of the horses surrounding Neptune was damaged. In addition, a 25 by 20 millimeter piece of the red marble tank came loose.
Increasingly frequent damage
Bartolomeo Ammannati’s work was restored in 2018 for no less than 1.5 million euros. Located in Piazza della Signori in the heart of the old town, the Fountain of Neptune is one of Florence’s landmarks. Mayor Dario Nardella condemned the tourist’s behavior on social network X before technicians observed the damage.
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This tourist thought it would be appropriate to go to Neptune for a selfie. Luckily there was no damage, the alarm system worked. Thanks to the municipality’s cameras, he was identified and has to pay a heavy fine. There is no justification against vandalism of cultural heritage.
In Italy, more and more tourists are damaging the country’s historical monuments. At the end of August, the Vasari Corridor in Florence was sprayed. Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said in a press release that “the slightest scratch will now be the subject of legal proceedings.”
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