When you visit a place of ancient beauty, you know that you're there to look and not touch - it's something engrained in us from a young age. But one man, who "didn't know" the Colosseum wall in Rome, Italy, was an "old monument" decided to carve his, and his partner's name into it - causing public outrage.
Fitness instructor Ivan Dimitrov, 27, was caught red-handed by an American tourist, who filmed the ordeal, as he scrawled his and 33-year-old Hayley Bracey's name into the wall.
After being caught and seeing the reaction, Ivan felt compelled to write an apology note, but it's been slammed by authorities, who have referred to it as "nonsense."
The bystander who filmed the tourist as he carved the names into the stone walls of the 1,937-year-old building, claimed that he used a set of keys. Ivan, who lives in Bristol, has been criticised for his apology letter, with one official at Rome city council reportedly saying: "What nonsense and what a surreal letter. What level of education does this man have not to know the significance of the Colosseum?
"It's just an attempt to pacify - and if he was so concerned why take almost two weeks to write? Why didn't he apologise sooner? He must have known what he did as it was all over the world's media."
He then shared what they were intending to do about his act, saying they were going to "pursue this through the judicial system along with the authorities at the Colosseum", sharing that they "hope to see an appropriate punishment when it comes to court."
For his misdemeanour, he faces a possible fine of up to €15,000 (£12,8k) and could be jailed for between two and five years when the case goes to court.
Ivan's letter, seen by MailOnline, reads: "Aware of the seriousness of the committed act, with these lines, I wish to address my most heartfelt and honest apologies to the Italians and to the whole world for the damage caused to an asset which, in fact, is the heritage of all humanity.
"I admit with profound embarrassment that only after what regretfully happened did I learn of the antiquity of the monument. The council with dedication, care, and sacrifice guards the inestimable historical and artistic value of the Colosseum."
But the authorities did not deem the apology appropriate, instead reiterating that they would be pursuing Ivan for his crime.
Social media users have also reacted to his actions, with one user criticising him, writing: "He was at the Colosseum in Rome and he didn't know it was old? How does he manage to put one foot in front of the other?"
Mail Online reports that Ivan's lawyer Alessandro Maria Tirelli has said: "I suggested he wrote to the authorities to express his sincere regret for what he did and offer his apologies.
"He thought he could get away with what he did in Italy, even knowing full well that if caught in England where he lives he would have been severely punished."
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