Kazakh tourist detained for vandalism in Pompeii
A tourist from Kazakhstan was detained in the archaeological park of Pompeii when he tried to carve his name on the wall of one of the ancient houses with a sharp object. He will be held accountable for causing damage. "This is an uncivilised act," said the park's director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel.
24 June 2024 11:40
Year by year, tourists cause more trouble with their thoughtless behaviour. The man who visited Pompeii this past weekend and wanted to carve his name on one of the houses has no reason to be proud.
Tourist detained in Pompeii
The tourist was detained by security on 22 June at 10:00 GMT and then handed over to the police, reported the Ansa agency. A team of conservators immediately began assessing the extent of the damage caused by the Kazakh to the well-preserved, decorated wall of the Ceii family's house.
The director of the park in Pompeii stated that a new law passed at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture will require the perpetrator of the damage to pay for the restoration of the wall.
Upon hearing about the incident, Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano stated that it was another "barbaric and idiotic act of vandalism against our artistic and cultural heritage."
The head of the ministry emphasised, "This is a very serious act that will be severely punished." He thanked law enforcement for their swift intervention.
Pompeii attracts as many as 3.5 million tourists annually
Pompeii is a city destroyed during the Roman Empire by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The volcanic ash that buried it preserved buildings, objects, and some bodies of people and animals, allowing a glimpse into the appearance of an ancient Roman city. The ruins of Pompeii are located about 20 kilometres southeast of Naples.
It is visited by as many as 3.5 million tourists annually. In recent years, there has been a disturbing amount of vandalism of monuments and thefts of ancient mosaic elements and fresco fragments torn from ancient walls. Any such offences are severely punished.
A few years ago, a tourist climbed one of the ancient baths in Pompeii. When a photo of her was shared online, a storm immediately erupted, and the police took action.
Source: PAP, WP Tourism
