British Tourist Faces Severe Penalties for Defacing Pompeii Heritage Site

The 37-year-old carved his family's initials into the ancient House of the Vestals, risking hefty fines and jail time.

The tourist used a blunt object to engrave five markings, including initials and a date, on the historic wall.
Italian authorities have reported the incident as 'damage to artistic heritage,' which carries severe penalties.
This is part of a broader trend of vandalism at cultural sites in Italy, despite increased fines and prison terms.
Pompeii has a history of being targeted by tourists, with recent incidents involving visitors from Kazakhstan and Australia.
Italy's tourism minister has condemned such acts, emphasizing the global importance of preserving cultural heritage.