Originally posted by Jasvox I go to the Vatican about 10-12 times each year...the reason for the tripods and monopods isn't to do with anything sacred, it has to do with the limitations of anything within the Vatican museum, the Chapels and the Basilica that may be used to cause harm to the objects of art and any of the physical parts of the buildings within the Vatican from tourists and visitors. With the millions of visitors each year through there, it is always a concern about the one in a few hundred thousand which go there intently on harming or causing vandalism.
Jas
I would believe you, and it makes sense for the Vatican Museum, as they made me check my tripod at the front before we entered the Museum proper. However, my complaint is more about the actual churches around Rome, where they let you in with a tripod, don't mind if you carry it, but approach you as soon as you start splaying the legs. Clearly they don't fear I'll damage their fine buildings with a folded tripod that I constantly swing back and forth, but as soon as it's immobile and has the capacity for least damage, they freak out. I'm telling you man, it's all about restriction of imagery and maintaining a monopoly on the good ones.