Rome Runs Red
- October 21st, 2007
- Posted by Sian Graham
Tourists who visited Rome’s famous Trevi Fountain on Friday (19.10.07) got more than they bargained when a vandal attacked the fountain turning the water red with dye.
PROTEST AGAINST FILM FESTIVAL
A man threw a bucket of red dye into the fountain in protest against the €15- million (A$24-million; dcerates.com, 23.10.07) budget allocated to the Rome Film Festival.
Italian police failed to catch the bold culprit but believe he is a member of a group who left behind leaflets claiming responsibility.
The BBC reported excerpts signed by the previously unknown ATM — Azionefuturista 2007 (ATM Futuristic Action) group.
“You wanted just a red carpet, we want a city entirely in vermilion,” they said.
Italy’s Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli saw red labelling the stunt “an unacceptable and irresponsible act of vandalism.”
THE YEAR FOR A SPECTACLE
The 18th century Baroque landmark attracts thousands of tourists each year who marvel at its iconic beauty but this year it has also captured media attention for all the wrong reasons.
In April a 40-year-old woman from Milan made international headlines after swimming naked in the fountain in front of a crowd of sightseeing tourists.
In June the water stopped flowing altogether after workmen broke the 2000 year old underground ‘Virgin Aqueduct’ that supplies the fountain.
FOUNTAIN RETURNED TO PRISTINE CONDITION
Fortunately no lasting damage was done with technicians briefly shutting off the supply to drain the fountain of its red colouring.
Reference:
BBC, Minister sees red at Trevi prank,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7053908.stm (20.10.07)
Associated Press, Man Throws Red Paint Into Trevi Fountain, Picture
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jCtL-KCFLbIaVOJ_H87zVQmqrbDgD8SCGEFO0