A valuable 19th-century Italian fountain statue was destroyed by a group of young German tourists who were caught on surveillance footage toppling the figure while posing for photos. The statue, known as Domina, was created by artist Enrico Butti and is estimated to be around 150 years old with a value of €200,000. The tourists had rented Villa Aleco, where the statue was located.
Bruno Golferini, the manager of Villa Aleco, expressed his disappointment, stating that Domina had symbolically protected the villa. He described the actions of the tourists as ignorant and filed a complaint against all 17 individuals involved. The tourists had left Italy by the time the incident was discovered, and police are currently investigating.
Golferini explained that the tourists had ignored the ban on entering the fountain and were captured on video surveillance embracing the statue, causing it to fall and break. Repairing the 1.70-meter statue would prove to be challenging.
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, shared the story on Instagram and criticized the tourists, suggesting they should be called “stupids” instead of influencers. Francesca Caruso, the councillor for culture of the Lombardy region, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that those who damage cultural heritage should face severe consequences and be held accountable for the damage caused.
It is important to address incidents of vandalism to preserve and protect historical and artistic treasures. Such acts not only result in the irreplaceable loss of cultural heritage but also incur substantial costs for restoration and repair.