A tourist's eagerness to take a photo destroys a work of art in a Verona museum.

The Maffei Palace Museum , a Baroque gem in the heart of Verona, home to masterpieces and curiosities that have survived for centuries, could not withstand the weight of modern folly. In order to get a unique photo, a tourist sat on the ' Van Gogh Chair' by contemporary artist Nicola Bolla , an extremely delicate piece, entirely covered with hundreds of Swarovski crystals , estimated to be worth tens of thousands of euros. The result was to be expected: a creaking sound and the work shattered under the vandal's weight. The chair is a reinterpretation of the chair featured in Van Gogh's famous 1888 painting. Bolla's work occupies a room in the Maffei Museum, which houses Luigi Carlon's eclectic collection, ranging from archaeology to contemporary art.

The incident, which took several weeks to become public knowledge until the restoration work was completed, occurred under the impassive eyes of security cameras. Two tourists, of unknown nationality and names, cunningly waited for the security personnel to leave the room. Their goal was to get a " photo effect ." First, the woman tried to simulate sitting on the work, and the chair held. Then, her companion, a man, leaned with all his weight on the delicate surface. The chair gave way under his weight, the glass shattered, and the work of art was irreparably damaged .

The images, clear and devastating, show the exact moment of the barbarity and the vandals' subsequent exit from the scene. To top it all off, the work had a clear sign in four languages: " Please do not sit ." But the obsession with a photo, surely to post on social media in search of the typical "like," overrode any caution. " It's a shame that people don't respect art or come to see it, but just take pictures... " wrote one social media user.

At the Palazzo Maffei, the outrage is palpable. Vanessa Carlon, the museum's director, didn't hesitate to call the incident an " irresponsible gesture " and shared the video of the vandalism on social media , which quickly went viral. Her intention, beyond the complaint, is to "launch a real awareness campaign about the value of art and the respect it deserves ." Carlon emphasizes that, although what happened may seem "ridiculous," it is " the ultimate nightmare for every museum ."

Fortunately, the story had a happy ending for the work: "For days we didn't know if it would be possible to restore it. But we did it ," said the director, thanking the restorers for their hard work and the support of law enforcement and the museum's security department. The chair has returned to its place, resplendent.

Reactions have been swift, both in the public and political spheres. Stefania Zivelonghi, Verona City Councilor for Security, expressed her displeasure on social media: " One of the worst evils of our time is the lack of respect : for art, for people, for situations, for the common good, and for the work of others." For Councilor Zivelonghi, "it is necessary and urgent to curb rampant individualism and recover a sense of community and sharing." The museum has filed a complaint against the tourists , demanding that they pay for the restoration costs.

Unfortunately, this incident in Verona is not an isolated case. The lack of respect for cultural heritage, the desire for a powerful photograph without considering the consequences, or simply a lack of interest in what is in front of them, are phenomena that increasingly concern museum officials. Carlon herself wanted to send a message to the vast majority of visitors who do show due care: "A special thank you to all of you who walk through the museum's halls every day with care, attention, and wonder. Because art is not just for seeing. It's for loving. It's for protecting ."

But the temptation to break any rules to do something unusual or capture a unique photograph is all too widespread. In Italy, news reports of damage to cultural heritage are frequent . Some are absurd. For example, the Museo Nicolis in Villafranca di Verona, a leading museum for vintage vehicles, has lamented similar behavior to what happened at the Palazzo Maffei in Verona. A spokesperson for the Museo Nicolis, which specializes in vintage cars, stated: "We are very sorry. Incredible things happen here too: some people even sit inside the cars!" This testimony underscores a worrying trend: for some, museums, of any kind, seem to be becoming mere venues for personal entertainment, forgetting their primary function of safeguarding and exhibiting cultural heritage.