Rome, the bombing of the Trevi Fountain tarnishes the image of the capital. Tourists against eco-vandals: “What a shame”

To cover up their protest, long before the local policemen jumped into the Trevi’s fountain to get them out of the water came the firm and forceful condemnation of passers-by and tourists. And it was the boos and reproaches shouted from the square – “shame on you” – that reaffirmed how what happened yesterday, in one of the best-known monuments in the capital, is an act that must be condemned and not supported in the name of the freedom of thought that, in exercise to which the entire city and not only was obliged to attend, did nothing but offend the constitutionally guaranteed principle. “If a historical asset like this is damaged in protest -a local merchant commented yesterday- we are facing a true regression”.

THE FACT
But a lot has happened again, after the episodes that weeks ago featured other historical fountains in the capital, namely Bernini’s Barcaccia in Piazza di Spagna and the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona that went dark like a wolf’s mouth The “Last generation” activists do not stop, yesterday, in the early afternoon, they immersed themselves in the work designed by Nicola Salvi dissolving charcoal in water. Once again, as was done in Piazza di Spagna, after having blocked traffic on more than one occasion on the Grande Raccordo Anulare and after having also roped themselves down on the Tangenziale Est, the activists have returned to the attack but this time time for themselves. It is no longer just a matter of complaints. There is the feeling of a city with numerous tourists who, by attending the “show”, have condemned their ways. Nine have been traced between those who had submerged and those who leaned on the edges of the monument. They will be denounced net of their justifications that, even now, go through accusations against a government guilty, according to them, of investing billions each year in fossil fuels.

THE REACTIONS
An authentic “act of vandalism”, all the political forces agreed: from the majority to the opposition, including those who govern the capital. «You can protest, it is legitimate, even a duty. But not with an erroneous, dangerous and harmful method, which affects precious common goods such as our monuments”, commented the mayor Roberto Gualtieri yesterday on his way to the Trevi Fountain and launching an appeal to the activists. His actions “force many people, distracting them from other jobs, to come here, to spend hours wasting water and light, putting stress on the monuments. It’s wrong. There is a risk – added Gualtieri – of damaging the monuments and public administrations are forced to carry out costly restoration interventions, with a lot of waste of water. It’s completely counterproductive for battle. If after restoring the environment it is damaged from a communication point of view, there is an obvious contradiction. Firm condemnation also of the Councilor for Economic Development Mónica Lucarelli: “It is not by disfiguring the monuments that the planet will be saved.” Thanks to the timely intervention of the traffic police, the activists (some of whom were already involved in the previous protests) were able to throw only two containers of coal into the water but the damage, in terms of costs and time to restore normality, it was in any case unbearable.

COSTS
Because the Trevi Fountain emptied naturally and therefore “Three hundred thousand liters of water – concluded the mayor – Restoration works are always expensive and have a significant environmental impact.” Technically, once the Fountain was emptied, it was cleaned with a low-pressure technique so as not to affect the monument and it was filled again. Operations continued until late at night. “It is a tired ritual, we will join as a civil party in this process too – the comment of the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano – I am sure that Parliament will soon want to approve the provision that will make them pay the enormous costs that the community sustains every time “. Fortunately, the Fountain has not reported any damage so far and this is also thanks to the fact that the charcoal was deposited on a waterproof layer of the Fountain and directly on the marble. However, analysis and surveys will have to be carried out.

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