American tourist drives red Ferrari into pedestrian-only plaza in Italy, cops say

Aspen Pflughoeft
·1 min read

At the heart of Florence, Italy, sits a medieval plaza whose worn cobblestones have boasted iconic works of art. The plaza of Signoria, or Piazza della Signoria, is ringed by stone buildings, including an imposing 12th century government building.

The plaza was the original home of Michelangelo’s famous “David” statue before the sculpture was moved into a gallery and a replica was installed, according to Britannica. The square is rarely empty, bustling with the vibrant life of locals and visitors alike.

The Piazza della Signoria as seen at night.
The Piazza della Signoria as seen at night.

A 43-year-old tourist from the U.S. was visiting Florence on the afternoon of Monday, March 20, according to a news release from the City of Florence.

The American tourist was driving a red Ferrari when he went the wrong way down a street and parked in a pedestrian-only area of the Piazza della Signoria, authorities said.

The red Ferrari driven by the tourist.
The red Ferrari driven by the tourist.

Officers immediately approached the man and soon realized he was driving without a proper international driving permit, police said. Officers fined him about $506 for driving without a permit, driving the wrong way and driving in a pedestrian area.

A similar incident took place in January when a California tourist was fined after he drove across the pedestrian-only Ponte Vecchio bridge nearby.

Florence is about 175 miles northwest of Rome.

Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the City of Florence.

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