In a heartfelt letter published by the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, Ivan Danailov Dimitrov, a tourist from the United Kingdom, has expressed his sincerest apology for engraving his name on a brick wall of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. The incident, which gained viral attention in June, sparked widespread condemnation and backlash.

Dimitrov’s letter demonstrates genuine remorse and extends his apologies to the Italian people and the world for the damage he caused to a monument that he now understands is a part of humanity’s heritage. He acknowledges his deep embarrassment for his actions and emphasizes that he had no knowledge of the building’s historic significance at the time.

“I deeply regret that it was only after the unfortunate incident that I became aware of the monument’s antiquity,” Dimitrov’s letter reveals. He recognizes the gravity of his actions and offers his apologies to the mayor of Rome and the Roman prosecutor’s office.

Although the wall Dimitrov defaced was a part of restoration efforts from the mid-19th century and not technically ancient, the incident has triggered anger in Italy, where the preservation of historical structures is an ongoing concern. Gennaro Sangiuliano, the Italian Cultural Minister, condemned the act as “extremely serious, disgraceful, and a display of immense disrespect.” He called for the identification of the perpetrator and appropriate legal consequences.

The Colosseum, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds tremendous cultural and historical importance. Constructed between 72 AD and 80 AD during the reign of Roman Emperor Titus, it stands as an iconic representation of ancient Roman architecture and continues to be a significant attraction for tourists.

New Title: Ignorance No Excuse: Tourist Apologizes for Defacing Colosseum