Almost a year after driving a Maserati rental car down the famous Spanish Steps in Rome, the alleged driver is now on trial. The 38-year-old has to answer to the allegation of “damaging a cultural heritage” in court, as an investigating judge decided, according to the Ansa news agency. In Italy, “damaging a cultural heritage” is punishable by a prison sentence of two to five years. The incident caused quite a stir at the time.
During the night action in May 2022, the Saudi Arabian citizen steered the car down the world-famous staircase at the Trinità dei Monti church – at least three steps were damaged, the police said at the time. The damage was estimated at around 50,000 euros, Ansa reported. Thanks to the help of passers-by, the driver got his car down the stairs and drove away.
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 had recorded the incident at the time so that the man could be identified.
The Spanish Steps are one of the most famous sights 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 steps several times. In 2018, for example, a driver lost control of his car, and in 2007 a drunk drove down the baroque staircase. How to better protect the stairs has been discussed for a long time – a road that is not closed to traffic leads past the upper part.
