Outrage in Italy as tourist caught carving his name on wall of ancient Pompeii villa in latest act of vandalism by holidaymaker

A tourist has been caught carving his name on an ancient wall in Pompeii – sparking outrage over what is just the latest act of vandalism at Italian archaeological sites.

The man, originally from Kazakhstan, was allegedly caught red-handed damaging one of the walls of the city, located under Mount Vesuvius and which was buried by the volcano’s eruption in 79 AD.

The anonymous vandal was arrested while carving “Ali” on light plaster in the House of Ceii, an ancient villa that probably belonged to the magistrate Lucius Ceius Secundus.

Italian authorities said the man would be forced to pay for restoration work on the wall to remove graffiti after being reported to police.

It comes a year after a tourist from Bristol was caught carving his and his girlfriend’s names into Rome’s 2,000-year-old Colosseum.

The anonymous vandal was arrested while carving ‘Ali’ on light plaster in the Maison du Ceii (photo)

A general view of the House of Ceii, an ancient villa which probably belonged to the magistrate Lucius Ceius Secundus

The photo shows wall paintings from the ancient Casa dei Ceii in Pompeii, Italy.

The entrance to the ancient villa, which is a popular spot for tourists visiting the site

Pompeii lies beneath Mount Vesuvius and was buried by the volcano’s eruption in AD 79 (archive image)

Park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said: “An uncivilized act. Thanks to the new law supported by Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, the perpetrator of the crime will have to pay for the restoration of the wall.

“Congratulations to the ministry’s employees and the Ales company who intervened quickly. Excellent collaboration with the police, whom we thank for their speed.

The Pompeii Archaeological Park states on its website that the House of the Ceii is “one of the rare examples of ancient dwellings from the late Samnite period (2nd century BC). »

They also say: “On entering the house, we notice the impluvium bath which is made up of fragments of amphorae set on edge, a common technique used in Greece and attested in Pompeii also in the House of Ancient Hunting.

“The back wall of the small garden is decorated with wild animals, a very successful theme in decorating open spaces.

“The side walls depict Egyptian-style landscapes with animals from the Nile Delta, which probably indicates a connection between the owner of the house and the cult of Isis, widespread in Pompeii in the last years of the city’s life .”

A passerby filmed Mr Dimitrov, a fitness instructor from Bristol, as he carved names into the stone walls of the 1,937-year-old building using a set of keys on June 23.

As peak season approaches, Italian authorities will be monitoring the country’s landmarks after last summer was marked by a series of senseless attacks on Italy’s beloved historic sites.

In the city of Herculaneum, which was also covered in volcanic ash during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, a Dutch tourist was reprimanded for “signing” an ancient wall.

Then, in August, two German tourists were arrested for covering a historic monument in Florence with football graffiti.

Locals were stunned by the disrespectful behavior of tourists who defaced the corridor that connects the city’s treasured Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace.

The men allegedly used black spray paint to write “DKS 1860” on the 460-year-old columns of Florence’s iconic Vasari Corridor.

The corridor connects the city’s treasured Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace and was originally built for the powerful Medici family.

And in a now-famous shocking incident, a Bulgarian-born Bristol-based fitness instructor was filmed smiling as he vandalized the Colosseum wall.

Ivan Dimitrov, 27, was on holiday in Rome with his girlfriend Hayley Bracey, 33, when he was caught carving the words “Ivan and Hayley 23” into the brickwork with a set of keys.