Rome (EFE) a letter sent to the Rome Prosecutor’s Office, to the mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, and to the city council of the Italian capital in which he assures that he was unaware of the age of the monument.
“I admit with total shame that only after what unfortunately happened did I find out about the antiquity of the monument”, wrote the young man of Bulgarian origin in the letter published today by the Roman newspaper “Il Messaggero”.
The two were visiting the Italian capital during a three-week trip to Europe and during a visit to the Colosseum, the man wrote the phrase “Ivan+Hayley 23” on a wall, as can be seen in a video posted by another tourist on a platform and it went viral.
The Italian Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, promised then that this act of vandalism would be prosecuted and after the Carabinieri searched the images of security cameras and hotel records and managed to identify the tourist while they were in Bulgaria.
In the event of a complaint, the Ministry of Culture will be a civil party
Sangiuliano assured that in the event of a complaint, the Ministry of Culture will present itself as a civil party. It is unknown if any legal proceedings have been opened against the young man.
According to the newspaper, the young man immediately apologized for his gesture and told the Carabineros that he was very sorry and also worried about the consequences of his act, since it was explained to him that he risks a prison sentence of two to five years and a fine of between 2,500 and 15,000 euros.
“Aware of the seriousness of the act committed, with these lines I would like to address my most sincere and sincere apologies to the Italians and the whole world for the damage caused to a property that is, in fact, the heritage of all humanity,” he wrote. in the letter.
Above all, he apologizes to the city council of Rome that “with dedication, care and sacrifice they guard the inestimable historical and artistic value of the Colosseum” and then tries to justify himself by adding that “he only learned about the antiquity of the monument later.”
This is not the first time that visitors to the huge amphitheater have decided to vandalize its walls.
Last summer a Canadian tourist was surprised by the security agents of the Colosseum while writing her name with a stone on the same walls. On that occasion, the guards were able to quickly alert the police, who went to the scene and reported the visitor.