Himari
Google
“Rude security guard damages palace reputation & visitor experience”
I am writing this comment to express my deep disappointment regarding a recent encounter with a female security staff member at the Palazzo Reale di Genova.
While appreciating the stunning beauty and historical significance of the Palace, my visit was severely marred by the unnecessarily rude and confrontational manner of one of your guards.
The staff member in question was a middle-aged woman with short brown hair and black-rimmed glasses.
I was merely taking a few personal photos/selfies to commemorate my visit—a standard, harmless activity for any tourist. This guard approached me and aggressively questioned my actions, asking:
"Why do you need to take so many photos of yourself?"
She then escalated the situation by bringing up unrelated and unsettling stories about previous visitors being prosecuted for photography inside the palace.
I have traveled extensively and visited dozens of palaces and historical sites across over different European countries, including renowned venues like the Palace of Versailles. This is the first time in all my travels that I have encountered such an unwarranted and aggressive reaction from staff regarding simple, non-intrusive personal photography.
This behavior is completely unacceptable and creates a hostile environment for paying guests. Tourists visit historical sites to appreciate them, and taking a few photos is a fundamental part of the modern museum experience.
It is truly no wonder that the palace seemed relatively empty of visitors during my time there. If this is the standard of visitor interaction, it actively discourages people from entering and enjoying this magnificent national treasure.
I urge the management of the Palazzo Reale to immediately address the customer service standards of its security personnel, particularly the guard in question, to ensure all guests are treated with the respect and courtesy they deserve.
