Written By Lisa Murimi
Outrage erupted in Italy after a female tourist in Florence was photographed miming a lewd act on a statue of the Roman god Bacchus.
The photos, shared online by the social media account Welcome To Florence, also show the woman kissing the life-size statue at nighttime.
The Bacchus statue, a modern replica of the 16th-century work by sculptor Giambologna, stands on a plinth near the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge. The original statue is housed in the nearby Bargello Museum.
Social media users reacted angrily, with some calling for the woman’s arrest. One user commented, “This is the result of years of attempts at turning Florence into Disneyland.”
Patrizia Asproni, president of Confcultura, an association promoting Italy’s cultural heritage, condemned the incident. She called for the application of the “Singapore model,” advocating for tight checks, high fines, and zero tolerance for such behavior.
Antonella Rinaldi, Florence’s archaeology and fine arts superintendent, emphasized the need for tourists to respect artworks. “Tourists are welcome here, but they need to respect our artworks, be they originals or replicas,” she stated. “Although I doubt this lady – whom I condemn – even knows the difference.”
Florence, a premier tourist destination, faced a massive influx of visitors in 2023, with around 1.5 million tourists descending on the city between June and September. This surge has led to significant challenges for local residents, turning the city’s narrow streets into crowded thoroughfares.
In response to similar overtourism issues, cities worldwide are implementing measures to manage tourist numbers. Barcelona’s mayor recently pledged to eliminate short-term tourist rentals within five years, while Venice and Japan’s Mount Fuji have introduced daily charges to curb tourist influxes.
