A tourist has sparked outrage after being filmed climbing into Rome's iconic Trevi Fountain to fill her water bottle. The woman scrambled over the 18th-century landmark's rocks to reach a stream of water, filled her container, and then walked back to dry land as onlookers watched in horror.
A guard blew a whistle and approached her, leading to a brief conversation before escorting her away. It remains unclear what further action was taken, but fines of up to €500 (£427) can be levied on anyone entering the fountain.
The incident is the latest in a series of vandalism cases at Italian landmarks. Last June, two American tourists caused £20,000 damage to the Spanish Steps, and a Saudi visitor drove a rented Maserati down the travertine staircase, fracturing two steps. Last month, a Swiss teenager was filmed carving the letter 'N' into a wall of the Colosseum, facing a potential fine of nearly £13,000.
The Trevi Fountain, designed by Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762, is a major tourist attraction. Around £1 million worth of coins are collected from its waters annually and donated to Catholic charity Caritas, following the legend that throwing a coin ensures a return to Rome.
