Photography in Italy (Rome, Florence and Venice)

I don't know of any summary anywhere of allowable photography. Generally the site is clearly marked. Whether or not it is enforced is always another question. I have seen places where photography was prohibited but appeared to be tolerated along as no flash was used. Others will indicate that No Flash is permitted. If you have any experience you should have a feel for angles, lighting, and perspective. General some angle gives more interesting pictures than head on. My camera has a flat back with a remote. Often put in the floor for good ceiling shots. You have to use you own judgment.

Whether its enforced is the big question. Lots of places say no cameras on the signage. Then I ask, and they say its okay to take pics. There is no real rule to this. I've taken pics in areas that really don't want you taking pics. And those are not shared on the Internet, they are entirely private. Though some of them are extraordinary pics. Its just my rule not to violate the intent, the agreement, that let me visit that site.

David, I've also never seen any kind of a list summarizing which sites allow or don't allow photography. As the others have mentioned, one of the main problems in preparing a list is that the rules vary, and the enforcement can be inconsistent. A summary list wouldn't be accurate. Some sights are more strict than others. For example, the Borghese Gallery in Rome doesn't allow ANY photos at all. They also require visitors to check just about anything that can be carried including purses, Daypacks, Camera Bags, Strollers, Tripods and Messenger Bags. Other locations (eg: Duomo in Milan) appear to have tough regulations but they don't seem to be enforced. Although flash photography is strictly prohibited, the last time I was there many people with P&S Camera were snapping flash photos all over the place and there was NO effort at all to curtail that. Each location usually has a sign in front, with pictorial symbols indicating their policy on photography. Your question about which vantage points to take the best photos is virtually impossible to answer. Which sights are you planning to visit? The best vantage point will depend to some extent on lighting, so will vary according to time of day. I often to a "walk-about" (sometimes completely around a site) and have a look from various angles. Depending on what type of Camera you're using, you probably won't need a Tripod during the day. I find that using higher ISO settings and image stabilized Lenses is usually sufficient. Bracing on a solid object works to some extent as well. The Tripod is best used for night shots when taking long exposures. Happy travels!

Unless it's a little tripod, don't bother taking it. Either they think it means you are trying to take pro photos or it is a hazard to others getting around, but reports from others who have taken tripods are that they get yelled at and told to move on. Even outdoors unless hardly anyone is around. Many, many museums/churches forbid flash usage. Some churches will say no photos, but don't make you check your camera or anything. The Borghese in Rome will make you check any bag with you, they gave me a key for my DSLR camera when we were there, I was a little worried leaving my camera with them but it really was fine. We've used my hubbies gorilla mini-pod in some churches to hold a camera steady but I wouldn't try a larger tripod. Resting a camera on tops of pews and walls and holding a camera agains a wall to steady it are also good. As far as specific sites and better vantage points, it depends on your light when you are there. I love to get the Pantheon in Rome at night and from the edge of the fountain with just a touch of the fountain in the shot.

You may want to consider a self-standing monopod or monopod walking stick. Manfrotto and Trek-Tech both make fine products of this type. If used in conjunction with a shutter remote, you can get a solid shot with little or no shake. Eyewitness Guides shows whether photography is allowed, but most places do not make you check in your camera. I like to shoot in the morning when crowds are non-existent. Many times, the most interesting architectural shots are from off angles. Also, remember that many Italian buildings have intricate carvings and neat uses of marble- don't be afraid to go macro with your exterior shots. Everyone gets the "in front of this building" shot. The great shot is the one nobody else gets.

Thank you for all of the replies. For the record, I was never planning on using the tripod inside any sights, nor am I looking to go against any restrictions on photography or flash use. I am just a photography hobbiest looking to plan when I shouldn't even bother carrying the tripod. The main reason for the tripod is for taking pictures of my wife and I with the sites in the background, along with some long-exposure night shots of the cities and sights. The self-standing monopod sounds like a good idea for a future trip, but don't think I'll be able to get one for this trip. Regarding the vantage points, I was hoping some people might have good suggestions on locations for city views which include some of the sights (Colloseo, Pantheon, etc) in the frame, instead of just being right in front and snapping away. Lighting will always play into it, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Suggestions for Rome: Ponte Umberto I bridge in the morning light for shots down the Tiber to St. Peters. At the southern end of Ponte Sant' Angelo at any time of day shooting through Bernini's statues to the Castel. Late at night with few people around, a shot across Bernini's Fountain of the Barcaccia up the Spanish Steps; you'll need a mini tripod for that one. Another night shot of Fontana del Moro, looking up Piazza Navona. The Pantheon at night is a good shout, too. As for the Colloseo, it's hard to beat a view which includes the Arch of Constantine.

We were not allowed to use a camera in: The Uffizi in Florence The Vatican Museum in Rome
The Academia in Florence OK inside St. Peter's in Rome, but not in crypts below... Great view of Florence from a hill SE of town (across Arno) gets you the sunset and all of the bridges. Anyone in Florence can tell you how to get there, but take a taxi UP at least!

Good Suggestions Tex. David, I probably have about 10,000 pictures of Rome! Some of my favorites are the totally unscripted ones - like the newlyweds at the Trevi or the German band and Austrian choir performing an impromptu concert together on the Spanish Steps at XMAS time! There are many incredible views, even if it's just walking down an alley at midnight. I've shot B&W versions and the shadows are incredible! This link might give you a few suggestions **** http://tinyurl.com/romeviews ****

David, google "x-shot camera extender" it's a little retractable stick that you attach to your camera, and it's perfect for those couple shots in front of monuments, without getting in anyone's way! While taking tons of solo shots of each other in Paris, I saw a couple using one, and I ordered one as soon as we got home. We love it and now we have so many great shots of us TOGETHER all through Italy.

St. Peter's at night from the Ponte Sisto bridge is another favorite of ours. Works better if you have a good long range capability. Also for Rome from the Borghese Park near Piazza Del Popolo you can get some nice city shots. For Florence, Piazza Michelangelo gives you some nice wide city shots. Venice is full of shots everywhere, ride the vaporettos away from San Marco to get some nice shots of that area. The tripod may be a bigger pain than its worth depending on the crowds for when you will be there. You will have to be in fairly non-traffic areas to be able to set it up anywhere and non-traffic areas are not necessarily where you can get nice photo ops. You should be ok at the Piazzas above, we used the hubby's gorrillapod to get a few shots of us together on the path from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino and on a few back streets in Venice, but there was nobody around when we did that. My large tripod would not have worked out well for either location.

no tripod in the museums for sure. most museums say no pics but they don't enforce it very hard. the only place i see is you can never take a pic of David - they'll yell if you do. Not sure if it's common knowledge but there is a hill outside of florence, just a short walk really, there is a David replica on top, and during summer time many people take wedding pics there, over looking the river and florence, it's a good place for pics. In venice you can take the public gondola to check out other islands, just get off wherever you feel like, and you can discover hidden gems.

Hey Ron, did you get a picture of me proposing at Trevi Fountain?

Thank you all for the replies. These are exactly the kinds of suggestions and information I was hoping for. I will definitely print out this thread and try to map out the location. I looked at the "x-shot camera extender", but it's geared for compact P&S cameras. While we do bring one along, I shot mostly with a SLR. I have a gorrila pod, but even though it is the SLR Zoom version, it isn't really stable enough as a tripod for my camera. We also have a monster pod which we've used a few times, but it is not always easy find places to "stick" it. I'm going to have a hard time being talked out of taking my tripod. :D We're hoping that with the colder weather it will not be too busy to use the tripod when appropriate.

We were allowed to take photos in the Vatican Museums, no flash. It's supposed to be no photos in the Sistine Chapel, but people will anyway. Another great photo opp is if you climb the dome at St. Peter's in Rome, sorry, forgot about that one earlier.

David, re: x-shot-- we took an SLR too, as well as a compact. I carried the compact and the x-shot in my small purse, and we used both. Just one more plug for it-- it's cheap, really nothing to carry and so easy to use (even in crowds), that we got tons more "together" pictures than we otherwise would. End of sales pitch. :)

It varies from church to church and museum to museum. Each has it's own rules. Some enforce the rules, others don't.

Thanks again for all the replies and information. I will try and compile as much of this as possible. Michelle - you win. I just bought an item similar to the x-shot from amazon for less than $20 to use with the P&S. It does seem better suited for crouded areas. Hopefully we get some decent shots with it.

In just about all the art museums I visited in Florence, Rome, and Venice- photography was not allowed. The Vatican museum photographs were ok (I think no flash but not 100% on that one). No photos in the Sistine Chapel. Piazza Michelangelo in Florence, San Miniato Basilica just up the street from the Piazza. Top of the Duomo. Ponte Vecchio for sunset. Of course, the top of St. Peter's at the Vatican. Some good areas around Palatine Hill, I went up to the cafe level at the Victor Emmanuel Monument...Venice, back canals on the gondola..mmmm..the tower at the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore...hanging over the edge of the vaparetto on the Grand Canal... Sistine Chapel- I made 100% sure my flash was off and put my little Canon power shot A590 on Easy Mode. Wondered to a spot in the middle and looked around to see if any security people (at least 3 walking around)were nearby and took a shot of God and Adam. Sat along the wall in a couple of places close to the corners and snapped a couple of shots. But I was pretty much guessing on what I was looking at...just sort of aimed the camera in the right direction. I went on a Friday night tour. It wasn't super crowded in there but just about all the seats on the wall were full and plenty of people walking around. Accademia- took a couple of pics of the David doing the same guess and point the camera with no flash. 2 or 3 security people walking around there. 1 secret tip- The have a couple of big columns in that room/area where the David is...when you leave the room you can stand pretty much hidden from view and snap off a quickie. My camera is pretty quiet but I would wait at the Sistine Chapel for the noise level to get kind of high. The RonInRome blog has some good suggestions for photo spots in Rome. have fun! I liked snapping a bunch of pics from some of the higher locations and stitch them together to make panoramic photos.

Just got from our trip, and after a bit of rearranging due to the weather delays in London, and we had a great time. Michelle - I have to say you were 100% right about the x-shot. We used it everywhere (and got many looks and inquiries from others). Though it did take several attempts at most places, we were pleased with the results. In fact, we only ended up using the tripod once in Saint Marc's Square in Venice - but that was mainly because my main lens for the dSLR was malfunctioning. That's a whole other story... Anyway, thanks for all the advice and info.

David sorry I missed this post first time around. I hope you got up to the Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence - that is a tried but true spot for amazing pictures.

In Florence and Venice, the best thing to do is wake up very early (6-7) and go out for pictures. The Piazza dle Duomo in Florence is empty which is a sight in itself and in Venice, Venice is a completely different city late at night and early morning. Early in the morning the Piazza San Marco is empty and offers some great photo opportunities. As far as Rome, a friend of mine showed me a semi-hidden spot that offers some of the best pictures of the Coloseum. It's not immediately visible to most tourists so most people miss it but it's a great spot - so great in fact that in most of my visits there I see locals doing wedding pictures there. PM me and I'll try to describe how to find it if you're interested.

David, I'm so glad you liked the x-shot. If I'm going to nag a stranger on the internet into buying something, I want it to be worth it!

I think you just have to read Rick Steves hints about photography. i went to the Friari Church (sp.) in Venice and no photos allowed although several years earlier when i was on a Rick Steves tour, we could take photos. so who knows? i was in Volterra last March and also in Orvieto and i could take pictures in the archaeological museums as long as no flash which I'm sure you know. but i'm just saying it varies so much; you just have to go with the flow.