A family outing to the historic Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza took a tragic turn on Saturday afternoon, August 2. A 45-year-old father and his 14-year-old son from Austria fell around two and a half meters when the railing they were leaning on for a selfie suddenly gave way. The accident happened shortly after 5:15 pm during a guided tour of the famous Renaissance theater.
Both tourists were immediately taken to the San Bortolo hospital in Vicenza. The father suffered serious injuries, including fractures to his ribs and vertebrae, and had to be hospitalized. The teenager escaped with bruises to his elbow and wrist and was discharged on Monday.
The local authorities have launched an investigation to clarify the exact circumstances of the accident. The footage from the theater's surveillance cameras will also be analyzed. The city council has cordoned off the damaged area of the balustrade for safety reasons. The theater remains open to the public, but the tour has been adjusted to avoid the accident site. This incident once again raises questions about the safety of historic buildings.
