It seems "The Sweet Life" in Rome, often defined by it's world famous landmarks, are under threat from vandals.

Italian authorities have arrested a 52-year-old-man who is suspected of vandalising one of the fountains in Rome's landmark Piazza Navona.

The suspect, originally from Rome, was stopped in the city centre overnight on Sunday after police recognised him by his distinctive shoes, said the sources.

CCTV footage has captured a middle-aged man using a rock to break off marble chunks of the Moor Fountain in the early hours of Saturday.

Work was scheduled to begin on Monday to repair damages caused now estimated at 10,000 ($A13,459). The chunks of marble broken off by the vandal "have been recovered and may be re-attachable", revealed Umberto Broccoli, the Rome municipality's cultural heritage chief.

In a basin of pink marble on the south end of the square, the fountain holds statues of a Moor battling with a dolphin, surrounded by four pronged Tritons.

According to The Rome Post, nvestigators said he was in a confused state when arrested in central Rome. "I wanted to draw attention to personal problems I've had with the magistrature," he was quoted as saying.

Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno congratulated the police for identifying and arresting the man and said he hoped he would be given "exemplary punishment".

Such an event comes only a week after the Trevi Fountain was vandalised.

A tourist favourite landmark, the enchanting fountain was designed by Giocomo della Porta in 1575.

The statue of the Moor, by Baroque master Bernini, was added in 1653.

The original statues were removed, during restoration work in 1874, to the Villa Borghese and replaced with copies.