ULTIMA GENERAZIONE: Activists at the Trevi Fountain, April 2023 Photo credit: ecoo.it
Italy’s parliament has passed a law imposing fines of up to 60,000 euros for damaging or defacing national monuments and works of art.
Environmental activists, led by members of Italy’s Ultima Generazione group, staged a series of protests against famous buildings and works of art, causing damage that required extensive and expensive repairs. In response, a new law was promised to be enacted in April 2023.
Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano praised the new law as a “principle of respect” for national culture.
“It’s a good thing that it’s no longer Italians but Italians who pay for the damage,” Sangiuliano said.
The Italian Democratic Party (PD) was less enthusiastic, with lawmaker Laura Boldrini arguing that the new regulations would simply limit the right to “opposition and protest”.
The move follows the January 17 indictment of three Ultima Generazione activists for spraying orange paint on the base of Maurizio Cattelan’s LOVE sculpture in Milan in January 2023. It was consistent with the trial.
In a letter to the defendant’s lawyers, Cattelan said the hand sculpture, commonly known as The Finger because of its middle finger, was not damaged by the stunt. He claimed he did not feel “offended or hurt.”
The following April, the same activists occupied Rome’s Trevi Fountain and poured a black liquid, symbolizing oil, into the fountain’s water.
In December 2023, activists from another group, Extinction Rebellion, visited Venice to draw attention to what they claimed was a lack of progress in the Cop-28 climate change talks in Dubai. Added green dye to the canals.
Italy’s new law is primarily aimed at environmental activists, but media reports say it could also apply to tourists who damage historic sites or monuments.
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