Seriously? Just what did he think the Colosseum was?

“I admit with deepest embarrassment that it was only after what regrettably happened that I learned of the antiquity of the monument.”

That is the best he and his attorney could come up with?

Ron White is right, 'you can't fix stupid'

Nick, Frankly, I don't expect much from someone like him.

Joe32F, Pathetic, isn't it. I'm sure he lawyered up quickly.

I almost feel bad for the guy now, with his nationality and intelligence both under attack. He's been located, justice will be served--I think that is probably sufficient unless we want to put him in there with a lion.

Hands up if you didn't know that the Collosseum is old.

Anyone? Anyone? Beuller? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhiCFdWeQfA

valadelphia, Just to be clear, when I said “someone like him” I was not referring to his nationality, but his mentality. By making such a statement he presented himself as ignorant or stupid or both, so there should be no surprise that he will be mocked, since few would actually believe he is either.

Stupid is as stupid does.

Hmm...if he just thought it was a newer building that was falling down, why did he buy tickets and go there? And would his actions have been okay if the site was only a thousand years old?
Sorry, excuse not cutting it for me.

Stupid, we all say. And yes he is, but with an equal dose of inconsideration.
Stupid is, but inconsideration does.

The “I am ignorant “ defense.

That excuse doesn’t work for not validating train & bus tickets.
It doesn’t work for ZTL violations.
Hopefully he is fined to curb this nonsense.

This article mentions 2 more similar instances since this one:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-woman-under-investigation-for-damaging-rome-colosseum/48666730

One of the original articles said that the Italian police in the Colosseum were notified and did not approach the perpetrator.

.if he just thought it was a newer building that was falling down, why
did he buy tickets and go there?

I'm not at all sure he was inside? If you look at the photos, the girlfriend is holding a leash that probably had a dog on the other end. Pretty sure those are not allowed inside unless it's a service animal. It still doesn't excuse the behavior but I wonder exactly where he did it.

Wow, and two more clueless vandals over the past few days.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/rome-colosseum-viral-vandals-scli-intl/index.html

I came across a new term in an article to use in describing such people: Tourists + Morons = Tourons.

hey hey
@ stan love the new term
the new york post states
italian tour guide took video of her, told 17 year old's parents what she did was illegal and they "blew" him off and were annoyed!!
"she's just a little girl, wasn't doing anything wrong" parents reply
guide took pictures of family, gave to authorities, they questioned at police headquarters.
how annoyed will the parents be with a sentence of up to five years behind bars and fined 15,000E for damage of culture history & property. throw the book at her and her parents.
so many issues with many upset "people" trying to obtain/reserve "hard to get colosseum tickets, wouldn't be surprised that the italian government closes it down.
aloha

Speaking of ignorant . . .Okay, I can’t resist any longer. A few years ago, a poster asked if there were a church in Rome where she could attend Sunday mass. We can just hope that when she found one she didn’t scribble her name on the wall.

I really wonder what kids are being taught in school these days. I remember learning Ancient Greek and Roman history in grade seven and that’s what started my desire to travel. Recently, I had some electrical work done by a smart, young (early 20s), lad who was going on a European trip with some friends. He said they were starting in Venice and I mentioned I had spent a week there last year. We talked about it a bit, and then, with all seriousness, he asked me what the driving was like in Venice! I deserve an academy award for keeping a straight face on that one!

“ he asked me what the driving was like in Venice”
Uniform speed limits of 5 knots, fire, police and ambulance may exceed.

I have to wonder if he was both stupid and ignorant of the significance of the site, or perhaps just that he had a sense of entitlement and figured the rules don't apply to him. In any case, I hope the Italian authorities apply a suitable punishment.

Princess P -- yes, yes, yes! Both the "little girl" 17-year old and her parents should be heavily fined and whatever other punishment can be done to them. Sometimes hitting people in their pocketbooks is the only way to get their attention. Wherever they're from, I wonder how they'd feel about an Italian doing the same thing to an important historic building or site where they live?

What makes some people think it's okay for someone to carve into the side of a building of any age? Is it some kind of I was here tactile selfie? Maya Angelou was absolutely right when she said, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."

Anita -- you're a better woman than I am. I probably would've laughed out loud and said something like, "You're kidding, right?"

The 17 years old is a minor with no criminal record, nobody's sending her to prison.

There is no way to force Swiss citizens to pay a fine issued by a foreign state once they are back home. Only the public outrage in Switzerland could have some effect on Swiss authorities, but once dust has settled they will erect the usual rubber wall around their citizens again.