Tourists sometimes put enormous stress on local landmarks and historical buildings. According to the Cultural heritage Administration, tourists who visit Italy and its historic sites almost regularly steal bricks.
Last week I took the two pictures below while I was walking through the Naples' historic centre. On March 25th I also walked past the ancient Roman theatre, dating back to the first century BC. It is located in the heart of the old town and it is literally incorporated into modern buildings, as we can see in the below picture.
https://tropter.com/en/italy/naples/roman-theater-neapolis
The problem is that many tourists sometimes steal ancient bricks, dating back to the 1st century BC, from the wall of the Roman theatre. That's the reason why someone wrote "Tourist go home" on the old wall of the ancient Roman theatre.
The sentence written in Italian language on that ancient wall means: "Be careful! Some vandal tourists are stealing ancient Roman theatre's bricks with hammer and chisel. Why do we have so much trouble in recognizing them in time?"
Since 1995 Naples' historic centre has been listed as a World heritage site, by UNESCO, for having been a crucial centre for art and architecture since the middle ages. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/726
It seems that while local administration units have worked to preserve the UNESCO sites for decades, protection measures have not been as successful they would like. Actually, It is not the first time that tourists have been caught vandalizing or causing trouble at Italian tangible assets that are inherited from past generations. A few years ago two American women, a Russian man and a French tourist carved their initials into a piece of the Rome's Colosseum. And a 47-year-old tourist from India tried to hide a Colosseum's brick in his pocket.
https://www.foxnews.com/travel/tourist-to-roman-colosseum-caught-stealing-brick-as-a-souvenir-report
I took the above image of the elliptical amphitheatre in Rome last year, on April 9th. The Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre ever built, which is considered one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Have a nice weekend!
Hello, Giorgio! I've never suspected that tourists can steal ancient Roman bricks.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, some tourists are trying to smuggle home pieces of monuments as a souvenir.
DeleteTuristi vandali!
ReplyDeletePurtroppo bisogna prestare attenzione anche a questo tipo di danni: consiglierei agli amministratori locali l'installazione di telecamere alimentate con energia prodotta da pannelli fotovoltaici.
Delete...many communities have a love/hate relationship with tourists!
ReplyDeleteTrue, sometimes people who live in the most popular tourist cities, such as Paris, NY or Singapore, become tired of the crowd on the streets.
DeleteQue triste;
ReplyDeleteNão sei se pode dizer que esse tipo de atitude
são turistas e sim ladrões!
O ser humano é complicado...
Boa entrada de mês de abril.
janicce.
That sad;
I don't know if you can say that kind of attitude
They are tourists and thieves!
Humans are complicated...
Good entry to the month of April.
janicce.
You're right: people are sometimes complicated! Probably they sold those bricks after they had stolen them. We have to change the law, as the simple monetary sanction does not discourage valdalism. We should consider such behaviour as an infringement of the penal law. It would be a crime.
DeleteThank you for reading my post and writing down your comment, Janicce :-)
Regards,
G
I live in a small tourist town of 9,000. Being on the Oregon coast that brings in a million tourists during summer. Most locals, including myself, find them to be abusive, rude, destructive, and down right incorrigible. There are signs in my town that also read, tourists go home. I am not sure what happens to people when they go on vacation. Or are they like this at home too?
ReplyDeleteThat's true, Nicole. Last week my daughter went to Barcelona (Spain) where she saw signs that also read "tourists go home". Maybe some tourists used to carry hammer and chisel in their bags while they were walking in their countries' towns. Unbelievable!
DeleteHi Giorgio!
ReplyDeleteYou have pointed out something very important! Many tourists are completely devoid of reason. This is vandalism!!! I when I hear about the stupid, thoughtless ideas of my compatriots I’m ashamed! I have never done such a thing!!! I also never, for example, took a seashell from the beach, I just bought it! I, for example, never took a piece of brick, wall, illegally pebbles, marker.
Giorgio I salute you!
Hello, dear friend Anna,
DeleteI hope tourists who visit Poland will not be as destructive as we see in Italy.
Some tourists ignorantly destroy or damage our monuments. I think the authors of such vandalism should be charged with a criminal offence (penal law).
Have a nice Sunday, Anna :-)
Uy es alarmante. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHave a nice Sunday :-)
many local people scare with tourist nowadays, even in developing countries.....
ReplyDeleteIt is becoming increasingly problematic!
DeleteWe have also problems with foreign football teams' supporters. Last month in Naples the distruction made by Eintracht Frankfurt's supporters was not limited to the streets, with reports of damage to nearby buildings and shops.
The problem is that many tourists sometimes steal ancient bricks, dating back to the 1st century BC, from the wall of the Roman theatre."
ReplyDeleteThose aren't tourists, but simply assholes (sorry for the word I used but when "Ce vo, ce vo"
I agree with the definition :-) :-) :-)
DeleteOlá Giorgio
ReplyDeleteÉ um absurdo roubar tijolos, desejo tudo de bom, um forte abraço.
Unfortunately, some tourists steal bricks and stones from archaelogical sites.
DeletePlaces do need tourists, but so often they can and do cause damage.
ReplyDeleteIt is a dreadful thing to steal bricks/stones from any monument.
I do like your photograph of the Colosseum.
All the best Jan
Hello, Jan.
DeleteI know that in the Middle East the act of stealing bricks and stones from a historic landmark or damaging a monument is punishable by penal law with jail. I don't think that tourists steal bricks and stones from pyramids of Giza in Egypt or Great temple of Petra in Jordan.
Have a nice Day!
ReplyDeleteStunning photos! Bad that tourists would steal such things. Tell them to buy a t-shirt or keyring instead!
Unfortunately, it happens from time to time! I think people who are responsible of such crimes are not punished as the should in my country. I hope the government will adopt penal measures soon, including jail as wee see in Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and so on.
DeleteThank you for visiting my blog and leaving your interesting comment :-)
Have a nice day!
G
Glad to see you enjoyed my post with its info & photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the appreciation :-)
Regards,
G
Super post
ReplyDeleteIt never occurred to me that tourists stole bricks from historical landmarks!
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtless and selfish thing to do!
Beautiful photo of the colosseum, Giorgo.
Happy Easter!
Thank you, Veronica!
DeleteHave a happy Easter too :-)
This is certainly the downside to tourism. Why people cannot be a little more respectful is hard to understand.
ReplyDeleteTourism is important, as can be considered as invisibile export. But, as you mentioned, there's a downside.
Delete