German tourist charged with vandalizing 16th-century statue in Florence

A 22-year-old German national has been detained in Florence after allegedly damaging a statue at the historic Fountain of Neptune, located in Piazza della Signoria, city officials confirmed in a statement.

The fountain features a statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, seated atop a shell-shaped chariot drawn by horses.

According to the city's statement, the unnamed tourist climbed over a protective barrier surrounding the monument early on Monday morning and posed on the statue while two companions, who stayed behind the barrier, took photos. The incident was captured on surveillance footage, which was reviewed by police officers.

According to the investigators' account, shortly after 1 a.m. this morning, the tourist, accompanied by two friends, climbed over the fence of the Neptune Fountain in Piazza della Signoria and perched on the edge of the pool, the statement revealed.

The tourist then leapt onto one of the horse’s legs, reached the base of the chariot, and posed for photos with his friends. When climbing down, he stepped on the hoof, causing damage. By the time the alarm was raised, the group had already fled the scene, the statement continued.

The tourist faces charges under a local law that prohibits the "destruction, damage, alteration, defacement, pollution, or unlawful use of cultural and scenic heritage."

If found guilty, the tourist could face a fine and a ban from entering the city of Florence.

The statue had been previously damaged in 2005 when someone climbed onto it and broke Neptune’s hand, leading authorities to install CCTV cameras at the site.

In August, German tourists were accused of spray-painting football-related graffiti on a wall near the historic Vasari Corridor.

The Fountain of Neptune was commissioned in 1559 by Cosimo I de Medici, Duke of Florence, to commemorate the marriage of his son Francesco and Grand Duchess Joanna of Austria.