A British tourist was slapped with a £425 fine after making a simple mistake during his holiday in Italy.
The 42-year-old holidaymaker was visiting the famous Piazza di Spagna in Rome when he stopped off to cool down.
But he was handed the hefty fine and a temporary ban from returning to the area after police caught him dipping his feet into the water.
The blunder unfolded at the Barcaccia fountain which sits at the foot of the city's Spanish Steps.
Eating, drinking and paddling is banned at Rome's most famous fountains while coin throwing is still allowed.
This includes fountains at Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Barberini, as well as the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona.
However, traditions such as lobbying money into the Trevi Fountain is still possible for tourists.
The measures aim to tackle loutish behaviour from visitors in Rome who are tempted to bathe in fountains, vandalise ancient monuments and even try to break into the Colosseum, according to local media.
Tourists have even been referred to as "barbarians" by chairperson Paolo Bulgari when commenting on the €1.5 million cleaning and renovation of the Spanish Steps.
Several holidaymakers have been fined for jumping into other fountains in the Italian capital in recent months after the country saw temperatures of up to 40C.
Tourists are permitted to use free drinking water fountains at the famous sites but stepping into them is prohibited among other strict rules.
One tourist from the USA was fined £430 for throwing an e-scooter down the iconic Spanish Steps causing more than £20,000 worth of damage.
In Venice, tourists can be fined £250 if they fail to buy a day pass to visit and £225 for sunbathing at hot spots wearing swimwear such as bikinis.
While in Sorrento, bikinis are banned all together with rule breakers facing up to £425 in fines.
