After damaging Rome’s Spanish Steps with their electric scooters, two American tourists were fined and temporarily banned from Rome’s historic center.
This incident was caught on security cameras. It comes less than one month after a Saudi man was detained for driving a Maserati rental car down the 18th century landmark.
Police stated that the tourists, who were aged 28 and 29, were stopped on June 3, by a patrol after a scooter, also known under the Trinita de Monti, was thrown down the steps.
According to Thursday’s statement by the Capitoline Superintedency cultural Heritage office, “A couple of American tourists launched three scooters down the steps of Trinita dei Monti. They also damaged the third-to last travertine step on the side towards San Sebastianello climb.”
Restoration costs
The incident resulted in the loss of a 10-cm (four-inch) piece of marble. It estimated that the restoration cost would be EUR25,000 ($27,000).
Police said that the two men were each fined EUR400.
Police said that the woman was also charged for damage to a monument property. She was accused of intentionally throwing the scooter she was using down the stairs.
Police stated that the man and woman were prohibited from entering the area surrounding the steps for two consecutive days.
After a Maserati rented was driven down the stone staircase, and left behind, a 37-year old Saudi man was arrested by border police at Milan’s international Airport.
Two steps were fractured by the car, and there were “widespread chippings, scratches and abrasions.”
The Spanish Steps are one of Rome’s most famous monuments. Their name is owed to the Spanish Embassy at Holy See, which is located in the square below.
In 2015, a two-year EUR1.5million restoration of the landmark was completed. It has been featured in many movies, including “Roman Holiday”, starring Audrey Hepburn & Gregory Peck in 1953.
Top image credit: Roma Polizia Capitale
