Livid Italians call for manhunt to find tourist named ‘Ivan’ who defaced Rome’s ancient Colosseum walls

Italy has launched a manhunt to find the 'a**hole' tourist who vandalised Rome's Colosseum.

Italian ANSA news agency reported that local police are investigating, and the man faces a fine of at least 15,000 euros (AUD $24,550), as per the New York Post.

Additionally, the tourist could face jail time as the Italian landmark is listed as a World Heritage site.

Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said via Twitter that the graffiti was ‘a sign of great incivility that a tourist defaces one of the most famous places in the world, the Colosseum, to engrave the name of his fiancée’.

“I hope that whoever did this will be identified and sanctioned according to our laws,” he added.

According to The Guardian, Daniela Santanchè, the tourism minister, also condemned the act, explaining: “We cannot allow those who visit our nation to feel free to behave in this way.”

Over the weekend, the man was captured by a bystander carving into the world's largest amphitheater ever built.

In the clip, the man is seen writing 'Ivan+Haley 23' into the building’s 1,951 year old travertine limestone wall.

After realising he’s been spotted, the carver swings around and looks at the camera before laughing at the camera person, who comments: "Are you serious man? That's f**ked up. Stupid a**hole."

The caption of the video reads: "A**hole tourist carves his and girlfriend's names on Colosseum wall - June 23 2023."

And, of course, the internet went into a frenzy once the video began making the rounds.

One person wrote in the comments section: “Absolutely despicable behaviour and I hope they get fined for it or worse. The cheeky smile at the end shows he CLEARLY knew what he was doing was wrong. This is what entitlement looks like.”

Another said: “That level of arrogance should be punished with a prison term rather than a mere fine.”

A third commented: “I am Greek, and if anyone did the same to Parthenon, guards would arrest them immediately. I don’t understand how he was so cool about it and no guards actively reacted.”

While another penned: “There is an epidemic of selfishness and stupidity.”

However, this isn’t the first time the Colosseum has been vandalised.

In 2020, a 32 year old Irish tourist was allegedly caught carving his name into initials on a pillar on the first level of the elliptical arena.

He was arrested and charged with damaging a historical landmark.