Legal Action Following Damage to the Fountain of Neptune in Florence
Introduction
A 28-year-old female tourist is facing legal action after she allegedly damaged the 16th-century Fountain of Neptune in Florence's Piazza della Signoria on April 18.
Main Body
On Saturday, April 18, local police saw a woman climb over the railings and the basin of the Fountain of Neptune, which is also known as the 'Biancone'. According to police reports, the woman climbed up the leg of one of the horse statues to avoid touching the water. When authorities stopped her, the woman claimed that she wanted to touch the statue's genitals as part of a pre-wedding challenge. Following the incident, experts from the Palazzo Vecchio Workshop conducted a technical evaluation. They identified damage that was described as minor but significant. Specifically, the inspection revealed damage to the horses' hooves and a decorative band, which the woman likely used for balance while climbing. As a result, the tourist has been reported to the courts on charges of damaging an artistic monument. The Florence city government emphasized that the woman is presumed innocent until a final legal decision is made. This event is part of a longer history of damage and vandalism affecting the monument. Built between 1563 and 1565 to celebrate a new aqueduct, the marble structure has needed several repairs over the centuries. Records show that protective railings were installed in 1592 to stop people from using the water illegally. Furthermore, a statue was stolen in 1830, and artillery caused damage in 1848. More recently, in 2005, an act of vandalism caused the statue's hand to break off and damaged the surrounding pool.
Conclusion
The woman is currently under judicial review for the damage she caused, adding to the long history of threats to this 16th-century structure.