The incident raises concerns about visitors' respect for art and cultural heritage.
**Tourists Damage Crystal Chair While Taking Selfies at Italian Museum**
**Tourists Damage Crystal Chair While Taking Selfies at Italian Museum**
Visitors at Palazzo Maffei Museum in Verona accidentally broke an artwork while attempting to capture the perfect photo.
The buzz around museum decorum took a hit recently when a couple of tourists at the Palazzo Maffei Museum in Verona, Italy, unintentionally damaged a crystal-covered chair while posing for photos. CCTV footage revealed the scene: the man and woman waited until museum guards walked away before taking their chance to snap some memorable pictures atop the uniquely adorned chair, reminiscent of furniture depicted in famous artworks. However, the man miscalculated, leaning back and inadvertently sitting on the fragile chair. The result? A loud crack and the chair’s destruction.
The museum shared the footage in hopes of identifying the tourists and encouraging them to come forward and acknowledge their accidental vandalism. Museum director Vanessa Carlon expressed concern not just over the damaged chair, but also about the lengths visitors go to for social media posts, often prioritizing likes over preservation. "It wasn't a brilliant thought to sit on an artwork," she commented, underscoring the importance of respecting art while visiting cultural institutions.
Fortunately, museum officials have reported the incident as an accident and have already contacted law enforcement, although the police have yet to identify the individuals involved. The museum's hope is to educate visitors about the need to maintain a respectful distance from artwork in the quest for an Instagram moment. In light of the incident, Palazzo Maffei may need to enforce stricter policies to prevent future mishaps.
The museum shared the footage in hopes of identifying the tourists and encouraging them to come forward and acknowledge their accidental vandalism. Museum director Vanessa Carlon expressed concern not just over the damaged chair, but also about the lengths visitors go to for social media posts, often prioritizing likes over preservation. "It wasn't a brilliant thought to sit on an artwork," she commented, underscoring the importance of respecting art while visiting cultural institutions.
Fortunately, museum officials have reported the incident as an accident and have already contacted law enforcement, although the police have yet to identify the individuals involved. The museum's hope is to educate visitors about the need to maintain a respectful distance from artwork in the quest for an Instagram moment. In light of the incident, Palazzo Maffei may need to enforce stricter policies to prevent future mishaps.
