A centuries-old landmark in Florence has been damaged again, with authorities pointing to a tourist’s reckless stunt as the cause.
Police say a 28-year-old visitor climbed onto the Neptune Fountain in Piazza della Signoria as part of a pre-wedding dare that involved touching the statue inappropriately. During the attempt, she reportedly stepped on parts of the sculpture and grabbed onto decorative elements to steady herself. Experts later determined that the incident left noticeable, though not severe, damage to the horses’ legs and a nearby frieze.
City officials estimate the repair costs at roughly $5,800. The woman now faces charges related to damaging a cultural and architectural treasure, an offense that could result in fines reaching approximately $47,000.
The Neptune Fountain, a 16th-century work by Bartolomeo Ammannati commissioned by Cosimo I de’ Medici, has increasingly been targeted by tourists seeking viral moments. Despite enhanced security measures, including surveillance cameras installed after prior incidents, similar behavior continues. Officials cited past cases, such as a German tourist who harmed the same statue in 2023 and a teenager who hid inside a cathedral overnight to climb its dome.
Giorgio Caselli, head of Florence’s fine-arts office, criticized these actions, saying they demonstrate a troubling disregard for the city’s cultural legacy and reflect what he described as careless and uninformed attitudes toward historic monuments.