Tourists damage the Colosseum

Tourists damage the Colosseum

Two American tourists in Rome were visiting the Colosseum. The girls, aged 21 and 25, scratched their initials "J" and "N" into the ancient walls and then took a selfie. Police officers noticed the girls’ behaviour and stepped in.

The 2,000-year-old area is one of Rome’s most popular attractions. Millions of tourists visit it every year. Sadly, some damage it. The girls weren’t the first ones to do this. A Russian tourist scratched an initial into a wall of the Colosseum last year. He had to pay 20,000 euros for this.









Level Three Version

Two American tourists have been caught scratching their initialsinto the ancient walls of Rome’s Colosseum.
The women, aged 21 and 25, are from California but have not been named. Police officers on duty were alerted to the girls’ behaviour after they had scratched their initials "J" and "N" in letters about 20 centimetres high onto an interior wall and then taken a selfie. The 2,000-year-old arena, where gladiators fought bloody battles for the entertainment of crowds, is one at the capital's most popular attractions. Millions of tourists visit every year.
Fellow visitors were divided in their responses.
“It’s like a historical piece. Why do you need your name in it? You didn't build it so…”
“Why do you think it’s cool?”
“It's like leaving your mark. I don’t know. I think it’s cool.”
The American tourists are not the first people to deface the monument. Last year, a Russian tourist was fined 20,000 euros after scrawling an initial into the brick work.



Source: Link