There is no peace even during the Christmas holidays: the Ayrton Senna monument in Imola has been damaged by some acts of vandalism. The sculpture, created by artist Stefano Pierotti, is life-sized and located in the Parco Acque Minerali at the Autodromo.
The damage occurred in two separate incidents, according to Italian newspaper based in Bologna Il Resto del Carlino. The first took place on December 19, the second on Christmas Day. Some people reported burning memorabilia and flags. Dozens of banners, left there by fans from all over the world, hang on the fences.
The statue, as specified by Il Resto del Carlino, was not touched, and there seems to have been no intention to cause any harm. It was therefore an act of vandalism by several young people who entered the park at night—despite a mayoral ordinance prohibiting it—to drink alcohol before heading to a nightclub.
The municipality of Imola expressed great anger over the incident. In a press release on its website, it stated: “The municipal administration condemns the acts of damage inflicted on some of the memorabilia left by people near the Ayrton Senna monument, which represent a great heritage of the city, manifesting the love, affection, and respect with which the champion is remembered, to whom the city is deeply attached.”
To address the degradation and neglect, the administration had issued an ordinance prohibiting entry to the park with bottles and glassware, as well as banning the consumption of alcohol in the entire area. Commercial activities in the vicinity are exempt.
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