Three female tourist have been spotted ‘cooling off’ in a 17^th Century fountain in Rome, which has offended Roman citizens, who consider this fact as an insult to their architectural symbols.

“With temperatures hitting 90F (32C) the women thought the best way to cool off was to frolic under the jets of water in the 400-year old Fontana dell'Acqua Paola in Rome”, stated news website MSN.com.

However, this is not the first time that tourists cause outrage in Rome. Last September, six British citizens were fined for “stripping for a late night dip” in the Italian city.

For further information: http://www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/news/outrage-as-bikini-clad-women-cool-off-in-17th-century-rome-fountain/ar-BBuh6VF?li=AAggFp5&ocid=iehp

Outrage as bikini-clad women cool off in 17th century Rome fountain

Residents of Rome have reacted angrily after three women stripped down to their swimsuits to cool off in one of the city’s historic fountains.

The women, two of whom were wearing bikinis and the third in a one-piece swimsuit, are believed to have been tourists.

With temperatures hitting 90F (32C) the women thought the best way to cool off was to frolic under the jets of water in the 400-year old Fontana dell'Acqua Paola in Rome.

It dates back to 1612 and was featured in the opening scenes of Paolo Sorrentino's Oscar-winning film “The Great Beauty”.

The city’s extensive network of baroque fountains are cherished by Romans as some of the architectural highlights of the Italian capital.

Anyone leaping into the fountains faces a fine of up to 200 Euros (£170).

Last September six British architects were fined for stripping for a late night dip in another of Rome's fountains.

One spectator who was angered by the women’s behaviour grabbed pictures of their antics and posed them online.

The reaction on social media was outrage with Romans not considering the heat as an excuse to treat the fountains as a swimming pool.

Locals felt their city deserved more respect than had been shown by the women describing them as rude.

Another poster, Lucien, added: “You should go and do something similar in England or Germany. I'm going to tomorrow in my boxer shorts and swimming cap.”