Is photography permitted in the Borghese Gallery?
I've seen some posts from January in other forums that they prohibit photography (and won't even let you bring a camera). Posts from 2016 had indicated photography was allowed. Did they change the policy recently?
Yes, non-flash, non-tripod/monopod photography is allowed. The rules were changed for all Italian State Museums back in 2014 with the exception, maybe, of special, temporary showings. Civic and private museums have their own rules, though.
Kathy, Are you sure the Borghese Gallery is a state museum?
I have vague memoirs of the then Major being praised for the big re-opening in the late 90s. He almost had to sleep inside the construction site to make restorers hurry up.
I'm sure that no cameras bigger than a smartphone are allowed inside the Gallery, not because they make photos but because they are bulk. This could lead to some confunsion on-line.
They could let visitors use smaller ones and smartphones (no flash!) if it's a State Museum.
When I was in the Gallery a few years ago - we were not allowed to take anything in. We had to check all cameras and bags. They have a very secure holding area for your stuff.
I also saw docents confiscating cameras from visitors....
see this other link on this forum
Home / Travel Forum / Italy / Galleria Borghese...
From the official booking site:
http://www.ticketone.it/obj/media/IT-eventim/pdf/en/galleria-borghese-5.pdf
Scroll to the end of page 2. No mention of prohibiting photography, but cameras must be checked, and phones must be turned off.
Richard,
There's also this information from the Romewise website.....
"Speaking of cameras - the website says no photos are allowed, but on a recent visit, everyone, including yours truly, was snapping away, with SLR cameras and phones alike. I didn't see any "no pictures" signs anywhere, and although there are plenty of museum guards, nobody said anything to the people taking pictures. I think a good rule of thumb is no flash."
Take that FWIW.
From 2014:
Editing: I'd blown off the ticketing site's "no cameras" line as they hadn't updated that info last I'd looked, which was admittedly some time ago. But out of curiosity, I checked recent reviews on Trip Advisor and wonder if there's been a change; I'm seeing comments from January visitors who are mentioning a photo ban so it's possible they've changed the ruling. Will see if I can find anything official on that.
I'm not seeing those same comments from visitors this past year (before Jan 1) and in fact some posters included their photos with their reviews.
I was there a couple of months ago and photos were allowed (no flash). I have the pictures to prove it!
In case you missed it, see my edit above.
In 2014 we took photos, just no Flash photography.
I also saw a thread on TA . . . everyone who posted who visited since the 1st of the year said photos were not permitted. I know there's a special exhibit on that's very popular, so I'm hoping it's a temporary ban because of that.
Right now, tickets are only offered through Feb. 19 (the last day of the special exhibit). Is it normal that tickets aren't available more than 6-7 weeks out?
I'm seeing that too, Chani, and no, I don't think that's normally the case. I looked back at a RS thread from April 2016 and 2 posters had reported being able to purchase tickets through the official site further in advance of current 5 weeks. But as with the photography thing, I wonder if they've changed something?
I'll take a look at the site again a few times this week to see how they're moving booking dates out.
Is there any way to get a definitive answer? We're going to be there before 19 February. I'd hate to bring a nice camera and have to check it.
I tried the emailing [email protected], the email address at http://www.galleriaborghese.it/eng/galleriaBorghese.html, and haven't received a reply. The website includes the phone number 06 32810. Should I try calling +39 06 32810 when we're in Rome?
If you don't get an adequate answer, don't worry about checking your camera. Put it inside your daybag and check the whole thing at the staffed baggage room.
As above, don't worry about having to check your camera as it'll be perfectly safe. We were last there before the 2014 photo ban was lifted and had to check almost everything on us - including 2 cameras - but they do a really good job of keeping your items secured. I've never heard of a single tourist who didn't get back what they'd checked.
Richard,
I had to check my large dSLR camera the last time I visited the Borghese (a few years ago), and it's really not a big deal. I also had a P&S camera in a pocket, but at that time they were quite specific about the "No Photos" rule and with Docents in each room, I chose not to test the rule.
I visited today and was hoping to take pictures based on what I'd read online, but I was told that I'd need to check my camera when I got my admission ticket. There was staff throughout the museum who were enforcing the no photography rule when people would use their phones to take a picture.
Thanks, Ethan! That is really valuable information from someone who is THERE. The Borghese may have gotten a reversal of the rules set for ALL national museums back in 2014, and it must have occurred very recently. But I'm not seeing the same no-photo reports for other national museums, and I wonder if it has something to do with a special exhibition, "The origin of the still life in Italy - Caravaggio and the Master of Hartford" there until Feb. 19th?
The website says that demand for tickets has been very high for this showing, and photos are often restricted for exhibits of works on temporary loan to museums.
