A 28-year-old tourist has been charged after allegedly climbing the Neptune fountain in Florence to touch its genitals as a pre-wedding prank, causing an estimated €5,000 in damage. The tourist told police her friends dared her to touch Neptune's genitals, according to a Florence city council statement. Police charged the woman with defacing an artistic and architectural asset. Her nationality has not been disclosed.
Experts from the Florence city council said the prank caused minor but significant damage to the legs of the horses she walked on and to the frieze she held onto. City officials estimate the damage at €5,000 (£4,340). The exact nature of the damage to the horses' legs and the frieze has not been detailed.
The physical contact that is sought with the monument is far from the objective, emotional and intellectual [awareness] that we expect and favour towards our monumental heritage. We must not allow ourselves any conscientious concessions to the ignorance and superficiality that characterise such actions.
Giorgio Caselli, manager of the city council's fine arts office, said in a statement: "The physical contact that is sought with the monument is far from the objective, emotional and intellectual [awareness] that we expect and favour towards our monumental heritage. We must not allow ourselves any conscientious concessions to the ignorance and superficiality that characterise such actions." He added: "Our goal must be to awaken and cure the civic sense of those who frequent the city, which is not only to show respect toward others, but also towards monuments."
This is not the first incident of vandalism at Florence's monuments. CCTV cameras were introduced in 2005 after a visitor climbed the statue, breaking one of its hands and damaging the chariot. In 2023, a German tourist caused significant damage trying to climb the monument to take a selfie. That same year, a young couple tried to scale a copy of Michelangelo's David in Piazzale Michelangelo. In 2024, a teenager hid in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore overnight before climbing up to its cupola for a selfie.
Our goal must be to awaken and cure the civic sense of those who frequent the city, which is not only to show respect toward others, but also towards monuments.
Florence attracts roughly 16 million tourists a year. It remains unclear what specific charges the tourist faces beyond defacing an artistic asset, or whether she will face additional penalties beyond the estimated €5,000 damage. Authorities have not disclosed what measures are being considered to prevent future incidents.
Florentines are protective of their heritage and look towards them [visitors] with suspicion. Perhaps because they...