Tourist Defaces Home in Pompeii
by Dori Saltzman
In another case of tourists acting badly, a British tourist was caught carving his and his daughters’ initials into a 2,000-year-old home located in the ruins of Pompeii.
As reported by CNN, the 37-year-old-man made five engravings on the wall of the House of the Vestal Virgins. Photos of the damage, as seen on Italian news agency ANSA, show the letters “JW LMW MW,” as well as “MYLAW 07/08/24.”
The man was seen by staff and the police called. When confronted, he apologized. His case has been referred to the local town court as “damage to artistic heritage.” If found guilty, his fine will be somewhere between 20,000 and 60,000 euros, and he could face jail time of up to five years.
Many of Italy’s historic sites often fall victim to such desecration. Last June, a UK-based tourist carved his and his girlfriend’s initials into the Coliseum. Two other tourists were caught doing the same in the months following the June incident.
