Car Stunt Gone Wrong: Elderly Driver Descends Iconic Spanish Steps in Rome**

Despite heavy penalties for damaging monuments, an elderly driver attempted to navigate his car down the renowned Spanish Steps, leading to a bewildering situation that captivated onlookers.**

In a bizarre incident early Tuesday morning, an 80-year-old man made an unsuccessful attempt to drive his Mercedes A-Class down Rome's iconic Spanish Steps. Such actions are strictly forbidden, as per local police regulations. The vehicle was left trapped on the historic stairs, which are normally closed to vehicular traffic. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and authorities confirmed that the car did not sustain any damage to the famed monument.

The driver was not under the influence of alcohol, according to police reports, and although his identity and origins remain undisclosed, an image was shared depicting him in formal attire speaking with law enforcement. Reports from Il Corriere della Sera suggest that the individual appeared disoriented during the incident.

As footage of the unusual descent surfaced online, witnesses expressed their astonishment. Sowad Mujibullah, a hotel employee who observed the car's descent around 4 a.m., initially mistook the event for filming before realizing its reality. “It should not be destroyed by these crazy things,” he lamented, highlighting the significance of the steps as a historical site.

Rome imposes strict penalties for anyone damaging its cultural treasures, with offenders facing up to a year in prison and fines exceeding 2,000 euros (approximately $2,300). This incident is not the first of its kind; prior occurrences include tourists recklessly using electric scooters on the steps, resulting in significant damage. In another notable event, an individual mistakenly drove a Maserati down the same historic structure just last year.