German Tourists Accused of Toppling Valuable Statue at Italian Villa for Social Media

Young German Tourists Accused of Toppling Valuable Statue in Italy

A group of young German tourists visiting a villa in northern Italy have come under fire after allegedly toppling a valuable statue while posing for pictures to post on social media. The manager of Villa Alceo in the town of Viggiu, Bruno Golferini, revealed that two members of the group climbed into a fountain to hug the statue, known as “Domina,” created by artist Enrico Butti. Another member of the group then pushed the statue with a stick, causing it to crash to the ground.

Golferini wasted no time in lodging a complaint with the local police against all 17 German tourists who were renting the villa. However, the group had already left Italy by the time the incident was discovered, as it had been captured by the villa’s surveillance cameras. The statue, which was approximately 150 years old, is valued at around 200,000 euros ($218,000). Golferini expressed concern over the difficulty of repairing the statue due to additional damage caused to the tiles in the fountain.

“Domina was in a way the woman who protected the villa,” Golferini lamented. “Sadly, there are these ignorant people who do these kinds of things,” he added, expressing his disappointment at the tourists’ actions.

This incident comes just months after another act of vandalism by a tourist in Italy sparked outrage. In June, a visitor from England was caught on social media defacing the Colosseum in Rome by scribbling the graffiti “Ivan + Hayley 23” on one of its walls. Such incidents highlight the need for greater awareness and respect for cultural heritage sites, as well as the importance of responsible tourism.

Authorities are now working to identify and locate the German tourists involved in the statue-toppling incident. It remains to be seen what legal consequences they may face for their actions.

How can incidents like this be prevented in the future to promote responsible tourism and protect cultural landmarks

Young German Tourists Accused of Damaging Priceless Italian Statue

A group of young German tourists visiting a villa in northern Italy has sparked outrage after allegedly causing significant damage to a valuable statue. The incident occurred when two members of the group climbed into a fountain to hug the statue, known as “Domina,” which was created by renowned artist Enrico Butti. Shockingly, another member of the group then used a stick to push the statue, causing it to fall and shatter on the ground.

The manager of Villa Alceo, Bruno Golferini, wasted no time in reporting the incident to local authorities. Unfortunately, by the time the police became aware of the situation, the entire group had already left Italy. Fortunately, the villa’s surveillance cameras captured the incident on video, leaving no doubt as to the perpetrators of the act.

The damaged statue, which had stood for approximately 150 years, holds an estimated value of around 200,000 euros ($218,000). Bruno Golferini expressed his concerns about the difficulty of repairing the statue, as additional damage was caused to the tiles in the fountain during the incident.

Golferini described the statue as a symbol of protection for Villa Alceo, making the group’s behavior all the more disheartening. “It is truly saddening when individuals demonstrate such ignorance and disrespect,” he lamented.

This incident follows another recent act of vandalism that caused outrage in Italy. In June, a tourist from England defaced the Colosseum in Rome by graffitiing the phrase “Ivan + Hayley 23” on one of its walls. These incidents emphasize the urgent need for greater awareness and respect for cultural landmarks, highlighting the importance of responsible tourism.

Authorities are currently working to identify and track down the German tourists involved in the statue-toppling incident. The legal consequences for their actions remain unknown.