Every time we travel to a new place, we are eager to indulge in the history and culture of the destination. Being responsible tourists, it falls upon us to always maintain the sanctity of the heritage of the places we visit. However, in a recent incident, a British tourist in Rome ended up crossing the line. Ivan Dimitrov, a tourist from the United Kingdom, damaged the Colosseum in Rome, a historic structure. The British visitor was photographed carving his name and the name of his girlfriend onto the Colosseum.
Man Carved Girlfriend’s Name On Rome’s Colosseum
Italians are furious after a tourist was filmed by an English-speaking man scrawling into the wall of Rome’s ancient Colosseum.#Italy#EuropeanUnion #world#CRAZY pic.twitter.com/HFvqKWRdq0
— Lady Di (@Lady_Di_W) June 26, 2023
Ivan Dimitrov is a fitness instructor from Bulgaria who is also known as Ivan Hawkins. Recently, he was travelling with his girlfriend, Hayley Bracey, in Rome. Out of poor judgement, he proceeded to carve “Ivan + Hayley 23” into the 2000-year-old building. The incident was captured on camera, and outrage over the alleged vandalism quickly spread online. Around 300,000 people viewed the online video with the title “A*****e tourist carves name in Colosseum in Rome” on 6-23-23.
The Italian police have located the tourist whose name was carved into the Colosseum. Dimitrov, who resides in Bristol, southwest England, could be sentenced to up to five years in prison or a fine of up to €15,000. This is due to the Colosseum’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Italian Carabinieri located the two in Bulgaria very quickly with the aid of photo comparisons.
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The British Man Begged For Pardon
After speaking with Dimitrov, they claimed that he had expressed sincere regret for his alleged wrongdoings. Carabinieri Major Roberto Martini shared that the culprit admitted that his actions upset him greatly, and he repeatedly apologised. He was concerned about the outcome of any trial, and the police officials let him know that he could receive a sentence of up to €15,000 in fines and up to two years in jail.
The legal repercussions were all explained to him because he was understandably concerned about them. The official shared that they simply informed him that he was a suspect and that the investigation involved him. Major Martina added that Ms Bracey is not a party to any complaint yet, so she is innocent in their eyes. He also added that she could technically be considered an accessory until further investigation is carried out.
Being a responsible tourist should be a priority for everyone while travelling.
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