Californians cut initials into Rome’s Colosseum, take selfie, report says

Two women from California are in hot water after apparently carving their initials into an ancient wall of the Colosseum in Rome, and then taking a selfie.

The women, ages 21 and 25, were visiting the Flavian Amphitheater -- 2,000 years old, the site of gladiator battles and an ancient icon of Italy -- Saturday morning when they engraved their initials into the facade.

The unidentified pair were with a group of friends when they apparently etched their initials, 8 inches high, on a wall on the first floor of the site built in the 1st century, the Italian newspaper La Stampa reported.

Then they were seen taking a selfie.

Officers approached the women and reported them for alleged aggravated damage to the historic Italian arena. The women were heard telling police they were regretful and “we’ll remember for a lifetime.”

This isn’t the first time tourists have been caught vandalizing the Colosseum, a major tourist attraction.

A Russian tourist was sentenced to four months in prison and ordered to pay a fine after he was caught in November carving the letter “K” onto the Colosseum.

La Stampa reported a Canadian boy broke off a piece of the amphitheater last year and tried to steal it during a school trip.

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