A group of young German tourists is facing accusations of destroying a valuable 19th-century Italian fountain statue valued at €200,000. Surveillance footage captured the tourists toppling the Domina statue by artist Enrico Butti while posing for photos. The incident adds to the series of vandalism cases reported across Europe, including the recent defacing of the Roman Colosseum by at least three tourists.
The tourists had rented Villa Aleco, the residence of the Domina statue, according to Italian news agency Corriere della Sera. Among the tourists, there may have been a well-known influencer, Janis Danner, with over one and a half million followers on Instagram. Bruno Golferini, the manager of Villa Alceo in Viggiu, described Domina as the protector of the villa and expressed disappointment at the actions of the ignorant individuals responsible for the damage.
A complaint has been lodged against all 17 tourists, who have since left Italy, and the police are investigating the incident based on the surveillance footage. Golferini mentioned that the damage was irreversible, making it difficult to repair the 1.70-meter statue. Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, shared the story on Instagram, denouncing the tourists and suggesting they should be called “stupids” instead of influencers.
Francesca Caruso, the councillor for culture of the Lombardy region, emphasized the group’s responsibility to pay for the damage caused to the artistic and cultural heritage. The councillor asserted that those who harm such valuable heritage must face severe consequences for their actions. The incident has raised concerns about the preservation of historical landmarks and the need to educate tourists about respecting cultural sites.
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