Tourists arrested after vandalizing historic Vasari Corridor in Florence, Italy

Connecting the iconic Uffizi Galleries to the Boboli Gardens across the Arno River, the Vasari Corridor was marred with graffiti related to a Munich-based football club (and no, it’s not the one you’re thinking about). According to CNN, the perpetrators have been identified as two German tourists, part of a larger group of 11 students staying in a city-center Airbnb.

Officials from the Florence division of Italy’s Carabinieri managed to pinpoint the two individuals involved, who are 20 and 21, and who reportedly utilized spray paint to deface the historic site. After the two suspects were identified, a search of their Airbnb showed crucial evidence, including two cans of black spray paint and stained clothes. As a follow-up, authorities are now cross-referencing fingerprints found on the paint cans with those of the 11 students who were questioned during the course of the investigation. The cost of repairing the vandalism is estimated at 10.000€, with the restoration work programed to be conducted under the watchful gaze of 24-hour armed guards.

The Vasari Corridor, originally constructed in 1565 by renowned Italian Renaissance architect Giorgio Vasari, spans one kilometer and served as a hidden passage for Cosimo I de’Medici, the then-leader of the Medici dynasty. This secret pathway allowed him to move secretly between family residences and the Uffizi museums, which were then the seat of governance. The monument had already been closed to visitors in 2016 for renovation purposes, reopening about 3 years later.

This act of vandalism joins a string of recent incidents involving tourists in Italy. From defacing the ancient Colosseum in Rome to swimming in protected lagoons in Venice, instances of irresponsible behavior have unfortunately become all too common. In response to this incident, Uffizi director Eike Schmidt has called for stringent legal action against such transgressions, advocating for prison sentences instead of nominal fines, while Italy’s Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano praised the swift identification of the culprits and underlined the necessity of holding individuals accountable for acts that damage the country’s treasured heritage.