Two tourists have managed to break off a piece of a priceless Italian statue which smashed to the floor after they tried to climb it and take a selfie.

The ‘Statue of the two Hercules,’ which sits in the northern Italian town of Cremona, shows the city’s emblem being held by two depictions of Hercules, the mythological demi-God who is said to have founded the city.

A large crown is shown sitting on top of the city emblem in the statue. It is part of the crown which broke off when the tourists tried to climb it, the Local reports.

The incident happened on Friday night and by Sunday police had identified two perpetrators, according to the Corriere della Sera.

Plundered artefacts returned to Italy Show all 5 1 /5 Plundered artefacts returned to Italy Plundered artefacts returned to Italy Plundered artefacts returned to Italy Rare Greek and Roman amphoras, statues, vases and frescoes are pictured downtown Rome Reuters Plundered artefacts returned to Italy Plundered artefacts returned to Italy Some of the 5,361 ancient objects – which had been stolen by Italian and Swiss criminals – in Rome this week Remo Casilli/Reuters Plundered artefacts returned to Italy Plundered artefacts returned to Italy Rare Greek and Roman amphoras, statues, vases and frescoes are pictured downtown Rome Reuters Plundered artefacts returned to Italy Plundered artefacts returned to Italy Italian and Swiss police have broken up an art trafficking organisation and recovered more than 5,000 ancient artefacts worth over 50 million euros ($57.92 million) Reuters Plundered artefacts returned to Italy Plundered artefacts returned to Italy A Carabinieri police stands next to rare Greek and Roman amphoras, statues, vases and frescoes Reuters

Technicians have since visited the site to assess the damage caused to the statue.

The statue dates back to 1700 and has long been seen as a symbol of Cremonia.

Before it sat in its current position under the portico of the 13th century Loggia dei Militi, it had originally been set on the top of the Cremonia city gates.