What should have been just a friendly challenge between friends before a wedding turned into a police case in Piazza della Signoria, in the heart of... FlorençaA young foreign woman was identified after climbing the Neptune Fountain, one of the greatest symbols of the Italian Renaissance, with an unusual purpose: touching the statue's penis.
The trail of damage
According to local authorities, the incident occurred last Saturday (18). To reach the top of the statue and avoid falling into the fountain water, the woman climbed the protective railing and used the hoof of one of the horses made of marble as a support.
The inspection carried out this week by experts from Fabbrica di Palazzo Vecchio confirmed the damage:
- Leg injuries in horses: Where the woman walked and applied excessive weight.
- Damaged trim: The young woman clung to a decorative element on the base to avoid slipping, which would have caused cracks.
The bill for the "joke"
The restoration of the work, sculpted between 1511 and 1592, was estimated at 5 thousand euros (around R$ 29,2 thousand)The author was immediately removed from the fountain by the municipal police and will face charges for the crime of damaging historical property.
Cases like this have increased pressure on the Italian government to further tighten laws against vandals and tourists who disrespect monuments. Florence, which receives millions of visitors, is particularly sensitive to "excessive proximity" to its open-air works of art. This episode reinforces that, in Italy, historical heritage is not a backdrop for social media pranks, but a rigorously protected treasure.
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