A tourist from the UK has been banned from Rome after he was caught jumping into the city’s history Trevi Fountain.
The man, described as a 30-year-old New Zealander who lives in London, was stopped by Italian cops with two companions, but managed to wriggle free and jump into the 263-year-old water feature on Saturday.
He was also fined €500 (£414).
The Trevi Fountain, built over 30 years in the 18th century, has long been a hotspot for public nuisance.
Footage taken by tourists on Tuesday showed a man, who has not yet been identified, climbing over the metal barriers surrounding the landmark before slinking over to the right side.
The 27-year-old Ukrainian man, who wore an all-brown tracksuit and green shoes, then climbed up the Travertine stone of the fountain and made his way across the intricate stonework.
Italian cops were seen whistling at him to get his attention, and calling him down from the 86-ft tall structure.
A tourist from the UK has been banned from Rome after he was caught jumping into the city’s history Trevi Fountain (File image)
The Trevi Fountain, built over 30 years in the 18th century, has long been a hotspot for public nuisance. Last June, a Ukrainian man was seen attempting to climb up the fountain’s marble horse
After walking back and forth across the staggered waterfall built into the fountain, the Ukrinian man can be seen dipping his hands and head into the flowing water
One policeman can be seen rolling up his trouser legs to prepare to get into the water, as the man climbed further and further up the stone.
After walking back and forth across the staggered waterfall built into the fountain, he can be seen dipping his hands and head into the flowing water.
Police then managed to make their way up the statue, slowly backing him into a box and forcing him to attempt a swift getaway.
As he’s forced towards the main basin of the fountain, tourists could be heard cheering as he nearly falls into the water, before he makes a break for freedom by running towards the gap between police officers.
Bystanders were then seen coming to the cops’ aid and making sure he couldn’t jump off and run free.
After arresting him, the Ukrainian man was found to be without identification papers, local media reported, and he was fined 1,000 euros. He was also banned from the city of Rome.
And in 2023, climate activists were dragged out of the famous fountain after a protest against the continued funding of fossil fuels, saying floods that have killed 14 people in the country’s northeast were ‘a warning’.
Seven activists from the anti-climate change organisation Last Generation climbed into the landmark fountain and poured a vegetable-based charcoal dye into it to turn the water black.
Environmental activists are removed from the famous Trevi fountain by police officers on May 21 2023
Hundreds of people who were visiting the fountain stopped to watch the protest before police arrived and began arresting and escorting away those involved.
Protesters at the fountain held banners reading ‘let’s not pay for fossils’ and shouted ‘our country is dying’.
Police pulling protestors out of the water confiscated the banners as tourists either applauded or booed.
Activist Charlie, 18, said: ‘I’m taking my first non-violent civil disobedience action to get institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels.
‘Flood disasters and drought and extreme heat events have triggered fear, anxiety, and anger in me.’
They added they expect to be punished for their actions by the Italian government, but said: ‘By now, however, it should be clear that we are not the real ecovandals, the real barbarians are those who continue to accelerate the environmental devastation underway for mere economic profit.’
