Florence, tourist climbs the Neptune fountain and damages the statue. Damage of 5 thousand euros

More damage to cultural heritage: on the night between Sunday and Monday, a 22-year-old German tourist climbed onto the Fountain of Neptune in Florence’s Piazza della Signoria to have his photo taken by his friends and damaged the famous statue.

According to the reconstruction of investigators, after 1 a.m., the tourist climbed over the fence of the Neptune Fountain and climbed to the edge of the pool. With a leap he then climbed onto the horse’s leg, reaching the base of the carriage and, after having his friends take some photos of him, he came back. On the descent he again placed his foot on the leg, damaging it. As soon as the alarm went off, however, the young man had already managed to lose track along with the other two. By viewing footage from the municipality’s video surveillance cameras, and after a series of stakeouts and investigations, officers from the ’central area’ department were able to identify the person responsible for the damage, who was then reported for “destruction, dispersal, deterioration, defacement, defacement, and unlawful use of cultural or landscape property.”

Investigations by experts from the Fabbrica di Palazzo Vecchio also revealed that the Fountain had suffered damage due to the weight and trampling of the German tourist. The front right paw had suffered the detachment of some of the plastering already done in the 2018 restoration, while the upper area of the chariot, made of red marble had suffered the detachment of a triangular portion of about 25 x 20 millimeters. The damage would amount to about 5,000 euros.

The fact had been made known on social media by Mayor Dario Nardella, who, also posting a picture of the incident, had written before the experts’ investigations, “This cunning of a tourist thought it best to climb on the base of the Neptune statue in Piazza Signoria for a photo. Fortunately no damage, the alarm system worked and the man walked away. But thanks to the city’s cameras, he was spotted and will pay a hefty fine. Against ignorance and vandalism on cultural property there is no justification.” In fact, the damage was there, as the City of Florence later made known in a note.

“The umpteenth defacement of the national cultural heritage, with damage that seems to be contained, is a sign of a total lack, on the part of the perpetrator, of respect for civilization and beauty, a sentiment that should instead distinguish those who choose to visit Italy,” said Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano. “This state of affairs absolutely must end. For too long it was thought that in Italy one could act indiscriminately. The measure toughening penalties for damage against cultural heritage, already voted by the Senate and soon to become law, will be the right deterrent to such actions.”

Florence, tourist climbs the Neptune fountain and damages the statue. Damage of 5 thousand euros

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