A California man who filmed two tourists carving their names on the Colosseum wall branded them “idiots” and said he wanted “to do something about it.”
Geographer Ryan Lutz, 38, filmed the tourist using a keychain to carve names into the stone walls of the 1937-year-old landmark.
The man is seen carving “Ivan + Hayley 23” into one of the bricks before grinning for the camera.
Lutz exclusively told Web: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw what that idiot was doing to the brickwork.”
“I’m fascinated by history and culture, and there was this fool who defaced it, which is a crime, and I wanted to do something about it.”
Geographer Ryan Lutz, 38, filmed the tourist using a keychain to carve names into the stone walls of the 1,937-year-old building
An bystander filmed the tourist using a bunch of keys to carve names into the stone walls of the 1,937-year-old building. According to the English-speaking man who took the footage, the incident happened last Friday, June 23
“So I took the video and showed it to the security officer at the scene and alerted him to the couple.”
“He said there was nothing he could do as he didn’t see them defacing the wall, but he said to speak to his boss.” I did and he informed me that the police had been called.
“That was the last thing I heard and then I left the Coliseum and got on with my day.” I posted the video in the hope that someone would recognize and identify them and then they would be punished.
“I think whoever they are are both idiots and I have this horrible gut feeling that these two idiots are Americans because that’s what we’re known for.”
“But I respect culture and history and am grateful to be a visitor to a place like Rome and to be hosted by such wonderful people and then two idiots do something like this.”
“They obviously have no shame and when he looked at me in that bizarre way and just smiled, you could tell what I thought of him.”
“I don’t understand what would make anyone do something like this and I really hope they are caught and punished.”
The couple spoke English and were likely trying to mimic the date of their June 23 visit – last Friday.
Lutz’s video was shared on Reddit with the caption: “A tourist makes a name for himself in the Colosseum in Rome.”
Lutz exclusively told Web: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw what that idiot was doing to the brickwork.”
It seems he carved “Ivan + Hayley 23” into the walls of the Colosseum
The man who carved the walls, wearing shorts and a blue T-shirt, grinned for the camera when he realized he was being filmed.
Lutz’s video was shared on Reddit with the caption: “A tourist makes a name for himself in the Colosseum in Rome.”
In the video, Lutz can be heard saying to the other man, “Are you serious, man?” That sucks, man. Stupid asshole.’
Other users were quick to comment, expressing their outrage and speculating that the man’s name was “Ivan” and “Hayley” was his girlfriend.
They also asked the poster to send the video to the police so the vandal could be arrested.
Should he be caught, he could face a hefty fine, which has been as high as £17,000 in the past. He even faces a prison sentence of up to a year.
In a statement, Italy’s Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said: “I consider it very serious, undignified and a sign of great rudeness that a tourist defaces one of the most famous places in the world, a historical heritage such as the Colosseum, and engraves it in the name of his fiancé .
“I hope that whoever made this gesture in the Flavian Amphitheater will be identified and punished according to our laws.”
Alfonsina Russo, director of the Colosseum, told Web: “The Carabinieri police are now looking for this man and we will see if we can get him.”
“When you meet uneducated people in the Colosseum, there is this kind of hooliganism and I hope there are no copycats.”
A spokesman for the Carabinieri paramilitary police in Rome added: “We have been informed of this incident and want to identify the perpetrator. If he is caught, he will be punished.”
This isn’t the first time tourists have been fined for vandalism in what is believed to be the world’s largest amphitheater.
In 2020, an Irish tourist was arrested for allegedly having his initials engraved on the Colosseum.
Carabinieri police said a 32-year-old man was caught by the Colosseum’s private security service and immediately reported to officers.
The man’s two initials, approximately 5 cm high, are said to have been carved into a first-story pillar with a metal tip in September 2020.
The unnamed man was accused of damaging a historical and artistic landmark.
In the video, the English-speaking man who filmed the footage said to the other, “Are you serious, man?” That sucks, man. Stupid asshole.’ Other users were quick to comment, expressing their outrage and speculating that “Hayley” was the man’s girlfriend
In 2014, a Russian tourist was fined £17,000 (€20,000) for carving the letter “K” into a piece of brickwork
In January 2017, the Colosseum was vandalized with black spray paint, according to officials
Fines start at £1,750 (€2,065) while the penalty can be up to a year in prison.
Archaeologist Federica Rinaldi, in charge of the ancient Roman amphitheater, said people who carve their initials on the monument want to “appropriate” it.
She added: “The Colosseum, like any monument that represents the history of all of us, must be preserved and passed on to future generations.”
The Colosseum is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world and is a World Heritage Site.
This is the historical center of the city along with 54 other Italian sites.
In January 2017, the Colosseum was vandalized with black spray paint, according to officials.
The name “Balto” and the word “Morte” (death) were sprayed on the column overnight.
In 2015, two American tourists were arrested for engraving initials in the Colosseum. Before they were discovered, the women, ages 21 and 25, managed to carve a J and an N into a brick wall on the first floor of the west side of the Colosseum
Two Brazilian men who attempted to climb through a gate into the Colosseum on the same day were arrested by authorities when they fell 13 feet (four meters) and one broke his hipbone.
CCTV was investigated to determine if they were responsible for the graffiti.
Francesco Prosperetti, special supervisor of the Colosseum, said: “We are concerned that this could become a game and people could start competing about it.”
In 2015, two American tourists were arrested for engraving initials in the Colosseum.
Before they were discovered, the women, ages 21 and 25, managed to carve a J and an N into a brick wall on the first floor of the west side of the Colosseum.
After carving the 20 cm high letters, the women posed for a selfie together.
The women, just two of the six million tourists who flock to the Colosseum each year, used a coin to engrave the letters, La Stampa reported.
They are said to have broken away from their tour group – but other tourists saw what was happening and alerted the security forces.
According to Repubblica, police charged the women with “serious damage to a building of historical and artistic interest.”
After being caught, the women apologized to the police of Piazza Dante and Captain Lorenzo Iacobone.
They said, “We apologize for what we did.” We regret it, but we didn’t think it could be something so serious. We will remember it for a lifetime.’
According to The Guardian, the damaged section dates from the 19th century – an important period of restoration.
A spokesman for the Special Inspectorate of Rome’s Archaeological Heritage is quoted as saying: “It is not an original wall, but it is ancient nonetheless.”
In 2014, a Russian tourist was fined £17,000 (€20,000) for carving the letter “K” into a piece of brickwork.
Construction of the Colosseum began sometime between AD 70 and 72 and could seat around 50,000 spectators.
They came to watch gladiators fight each other and dangerous animals, including lions.
Other tourists have always wreaked havoc in Rome, like in 2018 when two British tourists stripped and posed for photos in a fountain at one of Rome’s most famous monuments
One of the Brits can be seen removing his underwear as the two men frolic in the water at the foot of the Altare della Patria in the Italian capital
Other tourists have always wreaked havoc in Rome, like in 2018 when two British tourists stripped and posed for photos in a fountain at one of Rome’s most famous monuments.
One of the Brits can be seen removing his underwear as the two men frolic in the water at the foot of the Altare della Patria in the Italian capital.
Others filmed the men laughing and jokingly flexing their muscles in front of amused tourists.
Their antics were captured by a tour guide at the landmark – a memorial to war dead originally erected in honor of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of united Italy.
The footage shows two men wearing only their briefs, according to local media, posing for photos in the fountain.
Several people stand against the wall, dip their feet in the water and take photos.
Then one of the men pulls down his underwear and hides his genitals between his legs to pose naked for photos. Crowds of visitors walk past the Brits, who continue to misbehave.
The footage caused outrage on social media. One Italian wrote online: “English guys always rebellious and attention-seeking.”
Local media said at the time that this was another attack on Italy’s heritage.