Man drove his Maserati down Trinita dei Monti in Rome, also known as the Spanish Steps in Britain. He was charged with “aggravated injury to cultural and historic assets”.
The CCTV captured the incident in early morning hours on Wednesday.
Still images taken from the footage show it at the top 135-step staircase before it begins its steep descent.
The driver fled the scene.
Investigators found vehicle details that led them to a Milan car rental company, which was able to provide details about the driver.
To find him, the Border Police collaborated with Rome officers.
The unnamed 37-year-old foreign national was arrested at Malpensa Airport, in the north, Italy when he tried to return the car.
CNN reports that Rome’s heritage protection agency has stated that the car caused fractures at the 16th and 29th steps on the right-hand staircase.
Temporarily, the steps were fixed in order to permit pedestrians to continue using them.
Later, officers shared photos of the incident via Facebook with the message: “The culprit for the damage to Trinita dei Monti was tracked down and reported.”
The Spanish Steps can be found on a steep slope between Piazza di Spagna, one of Rome’s most iconic squares, at the base and Piazza Trinita dei Monti at the top.
The landmark is world-famous and was constructed between 1723-1725. It has been featured in many films, including Roman Holiday, The Talented Mr Ripley, and The Man From Uncle.
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