Camera Policies at attractions in italy

I am going next month and have been told by locals that yes, Accademia and Uffizi do not allow pictures. I do think you can bring your camera though, they will either hold it for you or allow you in but not allow pictures to be taken. I am guessing that tourists who don't drive to Florence i.e. come by train or bus, would have to be allowed to carry their camera around or have it put at a bag check.

Oh okay. Great. Thank you for your help.

Many museums and churches now have "no camera" policies. I have a couple of the DK Eyewitness Guides, and they now have symbols indicating whether cameras are allowed. My last trip to Italy was in '98, and I'm glad I got some of the interior shots I did. I'm going back next year, but will be focusing on getting some great countryside shots, and getting some shots in some more out of the way places.

Some places may require you to check your camera (this even happened a couple of times 12 years ago), while others will allow you to carry it in case or bag.

Some, but not all of the restrictions are thanks to the thousands of visitors who simply refused to abide by the "no flash" policies, and some is due to the attraction wanting folks to buy images from their gift shops.

The truth is there are no photos or videos allowed in Accademia. When we visited last May, I wasn't aware of this beforehand, and people were blatantly snapping shots (no flash). So my sister aims her camera and an employee steps in front of the lens and said "no pictures!". Little did the employee realize that it was too late - my sister got a fantastic shot that could be put on a postcard. She put her camera away obediently, but to this day we are still confused at the seeming double-standard. Perhaps there were not enough employees to control the crowds, or perhaps they were using the cameras as binoculars with the zoom feature and not taking any actual shots. I don't know.

Having said all that, the Italian government will no doubt trace this post to my computer and ban me from all tourist attractions. So I'll end this by saying that from now on, I will pay attention to the rules and even if "everyone else is doing it", I don't want to be the ONE that gets escorted out.

It must be a new policy - I took plenty of photos there but always with my flash off. However, there were many people who took flash photos even with the VERY conspicuous signs forbidding flash. It really was frustrating and very rude - and now everyone is paying the price, unfortunately.

Thanks so much you guys for all your insight and help on this matter. We leave September 15th for our dream honeymoon in Italy and I am really wanting to get good pictures. I'm Just glad to hear we will be able to carry it in our bag or check it if pictures arent allowed. I was worried about getting to our tour and getting turned away, I guess that just happens with dresscode issues. That being said, does anyone know if the "no shorts policy" applies to men and women or just women. Thanks for all your help!

I was berated on here in the past for asking this question so I will answer you so you don't get crushed. No shorts for anyone, at least at the Vatican.

Oh ok thanks. I appreciate your compassion. :)

In Rome you will have to check your camera (if larger than a point and shoot) at the Borghese gallery. You are not allowed to take any photos in the Sistine Chapel but you can take photos in the vatican museums. The rooms where you can't use flash will have signs before you enter. Most churches in Rome allow pictures but many don't allow flash. A lot of museums are the same way, no flash in certain rooms but cameras are welcome. Make sure if you're in a church you don't take photos while a service is going on. donna

I carried my camera everywhere. Some churches had signs indicating no photos. The Sistine chapel was the place where the no picture taking rule was to be the most strictly enforced. Everyone including me were taking pictures. There was one guard to oversee everyone. There was no way he could stop it. My suggestion would if you aren't sure just look around to see what everyone else is doing.

Should I be concerned if I have to check my Nikon D90 or is it secure?

"Should I be concerned if I have to check my Nikon D90 or is it secure?" Are you going to the Borghese?

I believe that is on the itinerary. Is that the only place that makes you check cameras bigger than a point and shoot in?

Thanks Kent. Would you say its pretty safe to check the camera, or would it be better to leave it at the hotel that day?

Many travelers posting here have left things in major museum checkrooms and I do not recall any post saying someone has not gotten their property back. No guarantees, of course. Will it be safer in the hotel room than in the museum checkroom? Is there a safe in the hotel room? Something else to consider: the grounds and exterior of the Borghese are especially photogenic. If someone in your party has a less expensive camera, and if there is a safe in the room, and if you would have more peace of mind leaving the expensive one at the hotel and using the point and shoot to take pics of the Borghese grounds and exterior....

I have checked my DSLR many times at the Borghese gallery and will do it on my next trip. It is perfectly safe. They do this all day, every day. No need to worry. You won't want to be without your camera for the whole day and unless your hotel is very close to the gallery don't waste time going back there to get it. Donna

The only place I had to check my DSLR was at the Borghese, and they gave me a key for it so they must have put it in a locker instead of out where many bags were. Plenty of other places allowed photography without a flash and the places that didn't want photography at all had sins but did not restrict you bringing your cameras in. There may be other places that also require you to check a camera, but we didn't hit them yet.

Some Churches and most museums won't allow photos to be taken. Some, like the Borghese in Rome and the Uffizi in Florence will require that you check your bags (backpacks and camera bags mostly). You could probably slip a small camera in your pocket and disable the flash, but if caught taking pics, you will be scolded.

Should I be concerned if I have to check my Nikon D90 or is it secure? I have a Nikon D300 and would never let it out of my sight. That's just me.

Jessica, I've been travelling with a DSLR for several years, and have found that most Churches and Museums that prohibit photography will allow Cameras to be carried. However, if one ignores the rules, the worst case scenario could be a humiliating eviction from the premises! The one exception is the Borghese Gallery which requires just about all bags and Cameras to be checked. Don't be too concerned with checking your Camera, as I found that the staff take great care to handle Cameras gently. DON'T leave it in your Hotel room, as you won't have it accessible after you leave the Borghese. I don't subscribe to the theory of "watching what everyone else is doing" and then following that example. If the signs say "No Photos", I respect that. I found at the Duomo in Milan, there were very strict rules for no photos, but they were NOT being enforced as there were flashes firing all over the place. I asked one of the Priests about this discrepancy in the rules. He just shrugged his shoulders and walked away. Note that many of the Museums you'll be visiting have "airport style security", including the Accademia and St. Peter's. You'll have to put bags and Cameras through the scanner. As I recall, one of the Museums in Florence would not permit bottled water, but I can't recall if it was the Accademia or Uffizi. Happy travels!

Jessica, most places will have signs posted as you enter that state whether or not photography is allowed. If you don't see one, just politely ask. Sometimes photography without flash will be allowed. My problem is that sometimes my camera just doesn't take really good "non flash" pictures. I solved the problem by makins sure I had LOTS of memory chips with me and did video (where it was allowed). I have some really great memories from my last trip by doing this. I learned how to use the program on my laptop and combined my stills and video to create a beautiful DVD, complete with some of my favorite Italian music. Just a thought for you since this will be your honeymoon.

It seemed as a rule that photos and videos were allowed in Rome, but not Florence or Venice. I would do what others do. The Dodges Palace had a no photo sign upon entering. I try to follow the rules. But everyone was taking pictures. I never saw the guards say anything. Suppress the flash. The Duomo in Florence didn't object to cameras; but just about everywhere else seemed to and enforced it. In Rome The Borghese, Sistine Chapel and Catacombs under St Peters didn't allow photos. I was scolded by one guard at the Capitoline Museum. But not for photos. (They have a no video policy.) We carry both a small point and shoot and a small Pansonic pocket video camera. And never had to check them in. Just slipped them in our pockets. We checked at the entrance to the Borghese. They only asked that larger cameras and bags be checked in. Have a great trip. Bring extra chips. If you're don't use it; learn to use the video option on the camera, for that choir practicing in the passage way by St Marks Square, the battle of the orchestras, the gondola, or the great street musicians in Florence. Carry an extra battery. As someone pointed out. If you're not familiar with it. Learn about Windows Movie Maker software or other movie editors. Have great memories.

The only place I had to check my camera was the Borghese. In some places where the no-photo rule is imposed, it is strictly enforced, in other places it is totally ignored, and sometimes it is sporadically enforced.

During a month-long stay in Italy,our experience with photography was exactly as Chani stated. I will share the the valuable advice we were given by a sage Roman on how to cross the street, as it seems to apply in many situations: Ally yourself with a beautiful woman, a mother and child, or a priest...the 3 groups in Italy that can get away with just about anything.

I have found that the signs, "No Photos" or "No Flash", can change weekly (or is that daily!) throughout Europe! There is absolutely no telling until you get to the sight.