by Donald Wood
Last updated: 4:30 PM ET, Wed May 6, 2015
Photo via Twitter
Taking selfies has become a phenomenon amongst younger travelers, but two tourists in Italy took it too far when they broke a piece off a historic statue while climbing it in order to take the perfect picture.
According to Chris Kitching of The Daily Mail, two men face criminal charges for climbing on the Statue of the Two Hercules in Cremona, Italy, and breaking off the crown that sat on top of the sculpture.
The statue is a symbol of Cremona-a city whose founding is credited to Hercules-which features the mythical character holding the emblem of Cremona. The two tourists climbed on top of the statute to take a selfie, but the weight was too much and the crown fell to the ground.
Local news outlets are reporting the authorities have two suspects in the case, and a team of experts was being brought in to determine the extent of the damage and if the statue could be repaired.
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera shared an image of the damage following the incident:
The Statue of the Two Hercules was built in 1700 and was originally showcased on top of the Cremona city gates. While it found itself throughout the city since it was completed, the sculpture now resides in its current location of Loggia dei Militi palace.
Unfortunately for Italians and history buffs, a recent string of bad decisions from tourists has caused damage to several priceless artifacts and structures.
From travelers snapping the fingers off statues to carving their names in the Coliseum, the Italian government is dealing with visitors behaving badly. For the record, taking a selfie is not worth ruining a priceless artifact. Ever.
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