March 09--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.
