Tourist Climbs Into Rome’s Trevi Fountain To Fill Water Bottle, Sparking Outrage

A female tourist was arrested for walking across Rome’s Trevi Fountain to fill a water bottle.

She was seen climbing across the Trevi Fountain’s rocks to reach the fountain’s center and using a spout to fill her bottle. A guard then blew a whistle, confronting her.

The signs around the Trevi Fountain clearly stated that going into the fountain is prohibited. Onlookers said the woman who filled her water bottle didn’t understand why she was in trouble.

Designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762, the Trevi Fountain is one of the most famous fountains in the world. Around 10.5 million people per year visit the fountain, which is one of Rome’s most famous attractions.

The woman could face up to five years in prison and a fine of around 15,000 euros (almost $17,000) for damaging cultural property.

This isn’t the first time tourists have disrespected Roman landmarks. In June, footage of a man carving his and his girlfriend’s initials into the Roman Colosseum went viral. He later wrote an apology video asking for forgiveness and did not know how old the Colusseum was. A Swiss teen also defaced the Colosseum in July by carving the letter “N.” The Italian authorities later investigated her.

These acts of vandalism have not gone unnoticed by the Italian government, as these actions were criticized by Italy’s tourism minister, Daniela Santanchè, who introduced a bill to address people who disrespect Italian cultural landmarks.

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“These tourists are also vandals, because they have no respect for our cultural heritage, which belongs not just to Italy, but to the whole world. We’ve introduced a bill with a very simple concept: You break it, you pay for it,” Santanchè said in a statement.