A Prank's Price: Tourist Faces Charges After Climbing Florence's Neptune Fountain

A 28-year-old tourist is facing criminal charges in Florence after police say she climbed the city's historic Neptune Fountain for a pre-wedding dare. Officers removed the woman from the marble monument after witnesses reported her scaling the structure. According to a city council statement, she told police friends had challenged her to touch the statue's genitals.

Experts from the city's fine arts office assessed the 16th-century fountain, created by Bartolomeo Ammannati. They found what they described as minor but significant damage to the legs of the horses and a decorative frieze the woman used for grip. Officials estimate repairs will cost 5,000 euros.

The incident is part of a troubling pattern. Surveillance cameras were installed at the fountain nearly two decades ago after a similar climbing attempt broke the statue's hand. Last year, a German tourist caused damage while trying to take a selfie from the same monument.

Giorgio Caselli, who manages the council's fine arts office, says such acts reflect a lack of respect. "The physical contact sought with the monument is far from the emotional and intellectual awareness we expect," Caselli stated. He believes some visitors treat the city's heritage as a playground for social media challenges.

Florence, which draws about 16 million visitors annually, struggles to protect its art from overcrowding and impulsive acts. Caselli notes a growing local wariness, suggesting residents view some tourists with suspicion, fearing they see the historic city not as a living place, but as a backdrop for games.