Tourist Caught Defacing 2,000-Year-Old House at Pompeii, Faces Stiff Penalties

A British tourist has been caught defacing a 2,000-year-old house at the ancient city of Pompeii, sparking outrage and highlighting the ongoing issue of tourist vandalism at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, CNN reports, citing Italian media outlets.

The 37-year-old man, whose identity has not been released, engraved the initials of himself and his family, along with the date August 7th, onto the wall of the House of the Vestal Virgins. The damage, clearly visible in photos, includes the letters “JW LMW MW” and “MYLAW 07/08/24” scratched into the plaster.

Staff at the site noticed the damage and called the police. The tourist apologized, claiming he wanted to leave a mark of his family’s visit.

The archaeological park declined to comment to CNN, but in a similar incident in June, Pompeii’s director Gabriel Zuchtriegel stated that a tourist who had carved their initials into a different house would be responsible for the restoration costs.

The case has been referred to the local court in Torre Annuziata, where the tourist faces charges of “damage to artistic heritage.” This charge carries a hefty fine of 20,000 to 60,000 euros and a potential jail sentence of up to five years, reflecting Italy’s strengthened laws enacted in January to protect its cultural heritage.

Pompeii, frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, has long been a target of poorly behaved tourists. Since excavations began in the 1700s, visitors have frequently carved their initials, stolen artifacts, and even driven mopeds through the ancient city.

Italy’s top sites, heavily reliant on art and archaeology, are particularly vulnerable to damage, making these incidents even more concerning.