Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

Series of naked tourist stunts are insult to Roman modesty

The spectacle of naked tourists plunging into the Trevi fountain, Rome has prompted calls for admission fees to Rome's monuments' to keep out the barbarians.

Two naked men were hauled out of the fountain by police this month and fined €450 each. A 60-year-old German woman also took the plunge but maintained her modesty.

The stunts made headlines in a city increasingly fed up with tourists damaging Baroque statues, scratching their initials in the Coliseum and having picnics on the Spanish Steps, which have just had a year of dirt scrapped off them. The idea of charging entrance fees to Rome's heritage was launched by Dario Francesschini, the culture minister, who wants to charge tourists to enter ancient monuments.

"The Pantheon receives seven million visitors a year and has maintenance costs", he said. "There should be an entrance ticket, even a cheap one".
Last year 56 million tourists visited Italy, up 55 per cent from 2001. The country is feeling the burden. Venetians are urging the authorities to install turnstiles at St Mark's Square to deter crowds who dive into canals.

In Florence, the director of the Uffizi Gallery, Eike Schmidt said that every weekend was like a rock concert.
Adriano Le Regina, a former city official, said Romans must set an example first. He said: "If there is no decorum there is no respect".

Tom Kington, Rome
28 April 2017

FrankR Loc: NYC

Italy has been invaded and pillaged before. The current barbarian hoard seem much more intent upon destrying it and far less concerned over the consequences.

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

I agree. A modest fee makes sense! What are some of these people thinking!

2Dragons Loc: The Back of Beyond

That is what comes of not teaching ancient history and appreciation of the durability of the ancient artifacts that have been handed down to us. These current generations have not been
taught to respect what is not theirs. Sad, just sad to see how these wonderful places are trivialized by the idiots that are going to be running this world in the future. We stood before the
Trevi Fountain in awe of the talent and work that went into its creation. Real art and music seem to be going by the wayside.

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

FrankR Loc: NYC

I agree to a point, but there seems to be something else going on with incidents such as this. It's not just young people and it isn't just Americans. There are American and other students that have been writting their names with markers on the walls inside Giotto's Belltower in Florence, defacing a masterpiece of architecture from the XIV Century. But also adult Chinese tourists carving their names (I presume) into the pyramids at Giza and grown men, a couple in their fifties, Dutch soccer fans, who severely damaged the fountain at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome. It's like there's this feeling of "I don't give a damn" spreading everywhere you turn. From the way people take up two parking spaces to rudeness on the street, language used in every day conversation, to defacing irreplaceable works of art. It seems as if more and more people just don't care. About anything.

2Dragons Loc: The Back of Beyond

Respect and common courtesy are two things that are not taught to most children today, either by their parents or in the schools. It all started with Dr. Spock whose book encouraged parents to let their children write on the walls with crayons so that they could 'express' them selves. Children can do no wrong and NO ONE can criticize them without fear of warping their little personalities. I think I must be a dinosaur when it comes to parenting.

Mr Bob

I visited Italy in 2015. Rome in general is tagged with graffity almost on every block. I was quite disappointed in the atmosphere. I have no idea if the tagging was done by Italians or immigrants.

FrankR Loc: NYC

When my daughter (now grown) was in middle school, I took her and a couple of friends to lunch. Somehow the conversation became parents, kids and rules. One of her friends says,
"Just because you're our parents, that doesn't mean you can make us do things." I was trying to frame an answer, when my daughter looks at her and replies, "It's a good thing for you that you don't live in our house." I guess you're not the only one of your species. 👍