Kazakh tourist arrested for vandalizing Pompeii heritage site
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 uncivilized act," said the park's director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel.
11:43 AM EDT, June 24, 2024
Year by year, tourists are causing more and more trouble with their thoughtless behavior. The man who visited the famous Pompeii this past weekend and attempted to carve his name on one of the houses has no reason to be proud.
Tourist detained in Pompeii
The tourist was detained on June 22 by security 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 on 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 is another "barbaric and idiotic act of vandalism against our artistic and cultural heritage".
"This is a very serious act that will be severely punished," emphasized the head of the ministry. He thanked law enforcement for their swift intervention.
Pompeii visits 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 12 miles 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 offenses 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.
