Saudi man charged after Maserati driven down Rome Spanish Steps

Web Desk

16th May, 2022. 04:49 am
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— When in Rome, don’t drive your fancy sports car down historic stairways.

That advice apparently went unheeded by a man who this week drove his rented Maserati down the city’s Spanish Steps and now faces charges for allegedly causing damage to the landmark, according to police in the Italian capital.

The unnamed 37-year-old Saudi national accused of being behind the wheel was apprehended at Milan’s Malpensa airport after police identified him through the car rental company from images of the vehicle caught by surveillance cameras.

He’s been charged with aggravated damage to cultural heritage and monuments.

Video footage of the incident released by police shows the Maserati being driven into the pedestrian zone above the steps overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday. The car descends the first flight of steps before halting. Someone is then seen emerging from the vehicle and inspecting its plight.

The car caused fractures to the 16th and 29th steps of the right-hand flight rising up from Spanish Square, Rome’s heritage protection body said in a statement.

Some marble fragments were temporarily reattached “in order to allow the immediate reopening for pedestrian transit,” it said.

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