A tourist at Verona’s Palazzo Maffei has sparked outrage in Italy after shattering a crystal‑encrusted “Van Gogh” chair while posing for photographs. The chair, designed by Italian contemporary artist Nicola Bolla, was entirely covered in delicate Swarovski crystals and modelled after one of Vincent van Gogh’s iconic chair paintings
The fateful moment captured on CCTV
Security camera footage shows a couple waiting until museum guards were absent before attempting to take pictures. The woman gingerly leant on the chair; her male companion then tried to sit on it. Moments later, the chair buckled under his weight and collapsed. The pair immediately fled the gallery without reporting the damage.
Palazzo Maffei described the incident as “every museum’s nightmare” and strongly condemned the stunt as “superficial” and “disrespectful”. Director Vanessa Carlon noted that the couple deliberately waited for the room to clear before carrying out their reckless pose.
Fortunately, expert restorers, along with the museum’s security team and local police, were able to fully restore the chair within days. The museum thanked all involved but has not disclosed the cost of repairs or whether the tourists will face legal or financial consequences. This incident has fuelled renewed concern about tourists’ growing obsession with social‑media content, sometimes at the expense of respecting cultural artefacts and settings.
A symptom of widening tourist misconduct
The incident in Verona is not an isolated episode but part of an escalating pattern of tourist misconduct globally. Reports by Travel Tomorrow and other media outlets have documented similar behaviour in various destinations, reflecting a shift in tourist attitudes prioritising viral content over cultural respect.
In Bali, local authorities have initiated task forces specifically to deal with unruly foreigners, citing a surge in incidents involving temple desecration, public nudity, and traffic law violations. Amsterdam, facing mounting pressure from residents, has begun a “tourism reset” strategy aimed at curbing bachelor parties, street drinking, and the disrespect of local norms.
Across Europe, historic cities like Venice and Dubrovnik are implementing restrictions to mitigate overtourism. Venice has introduced entry charges and capped tourist group sizes. In Rome, sitting on the Spanish Steps is now a fineable offence. These responses underscore growing frustration over visitors disregarding heritage protections.
Tourism misbehaviour is not confined to ground level. Airlines such as Ryanair have started suing passengers involved in mid-air disturbances. In one notable case, legal action was pursued for over €15,000 due to an emergency diversion caused by disorderly conduct.
Examples of reckless behaviour abound—from tourists carving initials into the Colosseum to damaging sculptures at the Vatican. In Yellowstone, so-called “tourons” have been seen endangering wildlife and themselves for social media content.
These cumulative cases point to a cultural issue: travel increasingly viewed through a lens of personal branding, often at the expense of responsibility. Museums and cultural institutions now face the pressing challenge of safeguarding heritage while maintaining public accessibility in an era where the line between tourism and spectacle is rapidly blurring.
