Vacationer who carved title into Colosseum claims he didn’t know its antiquity
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tourist who carved his and his girlfriend’s names into the aspect of the Colosseum with a secret is reported to have apologised to the town of Rome, claiming he didn’t know the constructing’s historical historical past.
The man – who has been named in reviews as health club teacher Ivan Dimitrov – was filmed engraving a message studying “Ivan+Hayley 23” on the Colosseum on the afternoon of June 30.
Italian Culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano known as the writing carved into the just about 2,000-year-old Flavian Ampitheatre, which attracts six million folks to the Italian capital yearly, a “serious, undignified and a sign of great incivility”.
Mr Dimitrov has now penned an apology through which he expressed his “profound embarassment” and stated he solely discovered of the Colosseum’s “antiquity” after vandalising it.
“Aware of the seriousness of the committed act, with these lines, I wish to address my most heartfelt and honest apologies to the Italians and to the whole world for the damage caused to an asset which, in fact, is the heritage of all humanity,” says his apology, in keeping with MailOnline.
“I admit with profound embarrassment that only after what regretfully happened did I learn of the antiquity of the monument.
“The council with dedication, care and sacrifice guards the inestimable historical and artistic value of the Colosseum.”
According to MailOnline, a Rome metropolis council official known as the letter “nonsense” and “surreal”.
They reportedly stated: “What level of education does this man have not to know the significance of the Colosseum?
“It’s just an attempt to pacify – and if he was so concerned why take almost two weeks to write? Why didn’t he apologise sooner? He must have known what he did as it was all over the world’s media.
“We intend to pursue this through the judicial system along with the authorities at the Colosseum and hope to see an appropriate punishment when it comes to court.”
Italian news company stated whoever was answerable for the newest episode risked £12,000 in fines and as much as 5 years in jail.
Mr Dimitrov’s lawyer informed MailOnline: “I suggested he wrote to the authorities to express his sincere regret for what he did and offer his apologies.
“He thought he could get away with what he did in Italy, even knowing full well that if caught in England where he lives he would have been severely punished.
“On the basis of the letter and the words within it we hope to reach a satisfactory conclusion with the Rome prosecutor which will limit the fine and punishment.”
Mr Dimitrov is alleged to stay in Bristol together with his girlfriend Hayley.