US vacationer fined for driving rental automobile over medieval Italian bridge

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ROME (CNN) – The Ponte Vecchio, a stupendous, centuries-old bridge that spans the Arno River within the Italian metropolis of Florence, is greatest seen on foot as crowds of vacationers usually crowd the pedestrianized avenue to see its historic stonework.

Particularly when, as one California vacationer found this week, attempting to drive over it might price you greater than $540.

The unnamed 34-year-old man was fined 500 euros on Thursday morning after crossing the bridge in a white Fiat Panda rental automobile and driving with out a world driving license, in response to a press release from town of Florence, in response to the press workplace.

He advised police he was on the lookout for a parking house and didn’t understand he was on the well-known medieval bridge, the assertion stated.

The Ponte Vecchio is gated, lined with outlets, and often stuffed with foot site visitors.

Crossing the narrowest level of the Arno River, the 30-metre-long landmark connects the Pitti Palace with Piazza Repubblica. Begun in 996 and accomplished in 1345, the unique bridge was swept away throughout floods and rebuilt a number of occasions.

It’s the solely bridge in Florence that was not bombed by Germany throughout World Conflict II. It additionally homes the Vasari Hall, a passage initially utilized by Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici between the Pitti Palace and the Palazzo Vecchio.

In accordance with the Metropolis of Florence funds, the Metropolis of Florence has earmarked 2 million euros for an in depth renovation undertaking.

The Fiat Panda driver isn’t the one one in relation to vacationers moving into bother by seemingly making a unsuitable flip at a well-known Italian landmark.

Final Might, a Saudi was arrested attempting to go away Italy after driving a rented Maserati sports activities automobile down Rome’s Spanish Steps and fleeing the scene after the car received caught midway. He was accused of inflicting severe harm to cultural heritage and monuments.

Image above: Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence (Marta Carenzi/Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Photos)

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