US Tourist Throws Scooter Down Rome's Spanish Steps Causing $26,000 Worth Of Damage

A 28-year-old woman and 29-year-old man were caught on camera at the world heritage site in the early hours of last Friday morning, with the woman deliberately throwing her scooter down the 18th-century staircase.

source

According to Rome's police, the woman "purposely launched the scooter" down the 18th century Trinità de Monti staircase.

In footage filmed by a stunned passer-by, an unnamed woman was seen throwing the rented vehicle down the UNESCO World Heritage Site in an apparent fit of frustration.

metro

According to Italian publication La Repubblica, the female traveller reportedly threw the scooter twice more 'for sheer amusement' after the initial video ended.

Police eventually caught up with the 28-year-old traveler and her male companion, aged 29, after using security footage to track them down.

metro

Authorities subsequently confiscated their rented e-scooters, fined €400 each ($425), and banned them from going to the Piazza di Spagna for two days.

Authorities said the 16th and 29th steps had been cracked, while other sections of the staircase were also chipped, causing almost $26,000 in damage.

metro

The staircase underwent a $1.5million restoration project in 2015, financed by jeweler Bulgari.

It comes just weeks after a man drove his Maserati down the steps, and was charged with 'aggravated damage to cultural and monumental assets'. The 37-year-old Saudi businessman drove a Maserati down the Spanish Steps and didn’t think it was ‘so serious’ at the time’.

skynews

He told Corriere della Sera: ‘Yes, it was me who drove the car down the Spanish Steps. But I just took a wrong turn.’

In recent years the marble steps have been discoloured by pollution, as well as being stained by wine and coffee spills. In 2019, tourists were banned from sitting on the steps in a bid to crack down on unruly visitors.

nyt

Tourist numbers in the Italian capital have returned to pre-pandemic levels, with intense crowds converging at cultural landmarks. But the recovery of the sector has also seen the return of tourists flouting rules of decorum.

The landmark was made famous by the 1953 film Roman Holiday which starred Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.

the sun

It is classed as one of Rome's architectural masterpieces and was designed by Francesco de Sanctis between 1723 and 1726.

Here is the video of the tourist throwing her scooter down the stairs: