In a disturbing trend this summer, Europe’s museums are confronting a surge in tourist-related mishaps, culminating in the recent damage to a precious painting at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. Last Saturday, a visitor inadvertently struck the centuries-old artwork of Ferdinando de’ Medici while attempting to recreate the pose of the grand prince for a selfie.
The Uffizi's director expressed deep frustration, with this incident marking one of several occurrences highlighting the growing concern among art institutions across Europe. Earlier this spring, at Verona's Palazzo Maffei, a different tourist mishap occurred when a visitor broke a Swarovski crystal-adorned chair as they attempted another ill-fated selfie. Meanwhile, staff at the Louvre Museum in Paris went on an unauthorized strike recently, partly in response to overcrowding and the chaos generated by tourists more interested in social media posts than appreciating art.
“The issue of visitors coming to museums mainly to take selfies or create memes is pervasive,” remarked Simone Verde, director at the Uffizi. Europe’s cultural landmarks are grappling with how to manage the interests of a burgeoning tourist population eager to document their experiences digitally, often at the expense of the artworks themselves.
As European museums enter the busy tourist season, a spotlight is being cast on the long-standing challenge: the overwhelming number of visitors carrying smartphones. Despite various attempts to strike a balance, museum officials like Marina Novelli from Nottingham University warn that incidents of damage due to tourists are becoming increasingly common, signaling a need for more effective strategies to safeguard both art and culture amid the selfie craze.
