If the ancient city of Pompeii is a welcoming land for history lovers, it is also the scene of numerous incivilities on the part of tourists. On August 7, a 37-year-old man engraved the initials of his family and the date of his visit on the wall of an old house in the ancient city. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, the man was arrested in flagrante delicto following a call from staff responsible for monitoring the site. He admitted the facts and apologized. “I wanted to leave a trace of my passage,” he declared. He visited, with his wife and two children, the House of the Vestal Virgins (house of the priestesses Editor's note) of the famous archaeological site. Photos of the damage show letters carved into the plaster next to the front door, painted red almost 2,000 years ago. The letters "JW LMW MW" at the top of the wall and "MYLAW 07/08/24" lower down are clearly visible.
Frequent acts of vandalism have marred the experience at Pompeii, Italy's third most visited site, which attracts approximately 2.5 million visitors each year. In 2022, authorities reported an Australian tourist riding a scooter through the ancient ruins, while in 2020, another visitor was arrested for climbing onto a rooftop to take a selfie. The Italian government has responded to the increasing incidents of vandalism by imposing stricter penalties for those who damage cultural heritage. This year, fines can reach up to 40,000 euros for offenders found guilty of harming monuments and historical sites. The 37-year-old tourist is currently under investigation by the Torre Annunziata local court for “harm to artistic heritage.”
