July 6, 2023, 20:26 PM
July 6, 2023, 20:26 PM
The tourist who was filmed a few days ago carving his name and that of his girlfriend on an interior wall of the Colosseum in Rome assured that he did not know that the monument was so ancient when he did it.
Ivan Dimitrov, a resident of Bristol, England, said so in an apology letter addressed to the mayor of Rome, in which he affirms that he understood “the gravity of his actions.”
With a key, he engraved “Ivan + Hayley 23“, his name and that of his girlfriend, in the 2,000-year-old amphitheater.
His actions were filmed by another tourist in June and sparked outcry.
The police searched for him for five days and now, according to some reports, he is facing legal proceedings.
In the letter, seen by BBC News, Dimitrov offered his “sincere and heartfelt apologies to Italians and to the whole world.”
And he added: “I admit with profound shame that Only after what unfortunately happened did I find out about the antiquity of the monument“.
He said he admires those who “guard with dedication, care and sacrifice the inestimable historical and artistic value of the Colosseum.”
“I am also aware that similar conduct, in my country, would have much more serious consequences“, he added.
“For this reason I take full responsibility and sincerely and concretely commit myself to redeem and remedy the mistake I made.”
“The lack of civility, superficiality and inconsideration with which I acted, damaging the Colosseum to the detriment of anyone who legitimately wishes to admire and enjoy it, they have no justification“.
The legal consequences
Dimitrov’s lawyer, Alexandro Maria Tirelli, told the BBC: “We have already made a plea agreement.”
“The boy will undoubtedly benefit from a suspended sentence. The fact is appalling but not serious.”
The 27-year-old man was filmed by another visitor who verbally reprimanded him before handing the recording over to security officers.
Video of the scene was uploaded to YouTube and shared on social media.
If convicted of a crime, he could face a fine of up to 15,000 euros ($16,300), as well as a jail term of between two and five years.
Dimitrov’s lawyer told Il Messaggero newspaper that he hopes the letter will help his client avoid the harsher sentence.
The Colosseum is one of the best-known symbols of Imperial Rome and the most popular tourist spot in Italy.
It is protected by Unesco as a World Heritage Site, which means that it is considered a place of “outstanding universal value“.
The incident sparked widespread outcry in Italy and around the world.
The Italian Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, declared that “it was offensive to everyone around the world who appreciates the value of archaeology, monuments and history.”
