An unfortunate incident involving a group of young German tourists has caused an uproar in an Italian villa, causing irreparable damage to a valuable statue. While posing for social media photos, tourists decided to climb into a fountain and hug the famous “Domina” statue by artist Enrico Butti. One of the tourists used a stick to push the 1.70 meter masterpiece, causing it to crash to the ground.
Villa Alceo manager Bruno Golferini expressed deep disappointment at the incident. He immediately filed a complaint with the local police against the 17 German tourists who were renting the villa. Unfortunately, the tourists had left Italy before the vandalism was discovered, caught on the town’s surveillance cameras.
The 150-year-old “Dominatrix” statue, valued at around 200,000 euros, was of great historical and cultural importance to the town. Beyond the statue itself, the fountain tiles also sustained additional damage, making restoration a difficult endeavor.
Golferini shared his sentiments, stating, “Unfortunately, there are these ignorant people who do this kind of thing.” The incident serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of irresponsible tourism and the need to preserve our cultural heritage.
Responsible tourism is crucial to safeguarding artefacts and historic sites that are of immense value to communities and global heritage. Instances like this highlight the need to respect and love the places we visit, beyond simple photo opportunities.
This article is sourced from and written by AI.
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