The Small Onofrio Fountain, one of the iconic symbols of the historic Old City of Dubrovnik was damaged today in a freak accident. According to reports from eyewitnesses a tourist leaned on the edge of the 15th century fountain and caused one of the heavy stone slabs that form the outer rim to come crashing to the ground.

Thankfully the weighty stone didn’t injure anyone as it smashed into pieces of the ground. Although the incident is believed to be an accident the police are investigating the matter further and the Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities, the organisation that looks after the City Walls and other monuments, have also been on the scene.

The Small Onofrio Fountain, located at the end of the Stradun, is a magnet for tourists and in the warmer summer months is a source of much needed refreshment, and quite often small children climb on this edge to reach one of the fountains. The fountain was designed by the Italian architect Onofrio Della Cava and was constructed between 1440 and 1442.

Missing stone slab