A 28-year-old tourist has been charged with damaging the historic Neptune fountain in Florence after climbing the 16th-century marble statue to touch its genitals as a dare from friends. The incident occurred in Piazza della Signoria, where the fountain, created by sculptor Bartolomeo Ammannati in 1559, stands as a celebrated piece of Renaissance art.
Police spotted the woman on the monument and quickly removed her. She told officers her friends had dared her to touch Neptune's genitals, according to a statement from Florence's city council. Experts from the council inspected the fountain and found that the prank caused “minor but significant damage” to the legs of the horses she walked on and the frieze she held onto to avoid slipping.
City officials estimated the damage at €5,000 (£4,340). The woman was charged with defacing an artistic and architectural asset. Her nationality has not been disclosed.
This is not the first such incident at the fountain. CCTV cameras were installed in 2005 after a visitor climbed the statue, breaking one of its hands and damaging the chariot. In 2023, a German tourist caused significant damage while trying to take a selfie, and that same summer, a young couple attempted to scale a copy of Michelangelo's David in Piazzale Michelangelo.
Giorgio Caselli, who manages the city council's fine arts office, said such behaviour has become increasingly trendy among visitors seeking a “challenge”. He added: “The physical contact that is sought with the monument is far from the objective, emotional and intellectual awareness that we expect... We must not allow ourselves any conscientious concessions to the ignorance and superficiality that characterise such actions.”
Florence, one of Europe's most overcrowded cities, attracts around 16 million tourists annually. Caselli noted that Florentines are protective of their heritage and often view visitors with suspicion, as many treat the city's monuments as a game.
