A British man has sparked outrage after he was caught carving his children’s initials into an ancient wall at Pompeii.
The 37-year-old was reported to Italian authorities for defacing the Domus of the Vestals, a UNESCO World Heritage site that attracts huge numbers of tourists each year.
According to Italian newspaper Secolo d'Italia the tourist had even begun to inscribe the date before he was apprehended.
When questioned, the man, whose identity has not been disclosed, claimed he wanted to "leave a sign of his visit". He has since apologised for his actions.
The tourist has been reported to the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Torre Annunziata for damaging artistic heritage.
Under new Italian regulations, he will be required to pay for the restoration of the damaged site and face a fine.
It comes after another tourist was caught in the act of carving their name into the ruins several months ago.
He was intercepted while engraving the letters 'ALI' on a wall in the House of the Ceii, an ancient villa believed to have belonged to Lucius Ceius Secundus, a Roman magistrate.
Pompeii, located southeast of Naples at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, stands as one of the most significant remnants of Roman civilisation.
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Its exceptional preservation has earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status, making it a major tourist attraction in Italy. The site draws over 2.5 million visitors annually.
Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the park director, strongly condemned the earlier act of vandalism, describing it as "uncivilised". He said at the time: "Thanks to the new law supported by Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, the perpetrator of the crime will have to pay for the restoration of the wall."
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