Driving down the Spanish Steps in Rome – man has to go to court

Nearly a year after riding the famous Spanish Steps in Rome in a Maserati rental car, the suspected driver is now on trial. The 38-year-old is due to appear in court on charges of “damaging cultural heritage”.

An investigating judge has decided this, reports Ansa news agency on Tuesday. In Italy, the “damage to a cultural heritage” is punishable by imprisonment of two to five years. The incident caused quite a stir at the time.

During the night-time action in May 2022, the Saudi citizen drove the car down the world-famous stairs at the Trinità dei Monti church – at least three steps were damaged, the police said at the time. The damage is estimated at around 50,000 euros, Ansa reports Tuesday. With the help of passersby, the driver got his car down the stairs and drove off. A few days later, he was caught at Milan airport when he wanted to return the luxury car to the car rental company. Video cameras at the time had recorded the incident so that the man could be identified.

The Spanish Steps are one of the most famous landmarks in the world. The staircase by the architect Francesco De Sanctis from the 18th century is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cars have driven down the stairs several times. For example, in 2018 a driver lost control of his car and in 2007 a drunk drove down the baroque stairs. How to better protect the stairs has long been discussed – a road not closed to traffic leads along the upper part. (sda/dpa)