While reading on another travel forum I saw a post stating that you are not allowed to use a tripod to take pictures while in Rome. Even in public spaces. It seemed to be common knowledge among other members.

Yet I have never read this information here...it may have been posted at one time or another but I never saw it.

Can anyone else add anything to this information? While in Rome in December 2007 I saw SEVERAL people using monopods and tripods with officials around and nothing was ever said...they didn't even give them a second look.

Oh boy, I am going to Rome in March, planned to take my tripod along. I know many individual places in other areas don't allow tripods, but had not heard of them not being allowed at all.
So, I'm topping in hopes someone can advise us. I'll be disappointed if I can't take it, but don't want to drag it along if I can't use it.

You can read the thread I found the info on at tripadvisor

http://rome-hotels.tripadvisor.com/S...ome_Lazio.html

Thank you, hearts. Doesn't definitively answer the question but for sure raises an interesting point, regarding the 150 E for a one day license.
I can understand the concern about tripping, would never set up in a crowded place, so maybe that pretty much eliminates much of Rome. I do have a gorilla pod, though, so will take that along.

Once I was photographing Casa Batillo in Barcelona at night and someone comes up to me and asks if I have a license.

I go "huh."

Anyways, nobody else bothered me.

Where would this prohibition be communicated, if one exists?

Well I'm going in April and I'm going to pack my tripod as well as gorillapod.

Sounds more like hearsay. I've used tripods at night in Venice and Siena and other towns.

Never once confronted.

Maybe worth emailing the Rome Tourism office.

You see the guys (the ones with the blankets) selling them everywhere in Rome. The ones they are selling appear to be some kind of rubber bendable contraptions. Of course they pack up and run every time the police head their way.

kybourbon that is because what they are doing is illegal lol.

If you are a professional photographer you need a permit to photograph state own property in Rome. They assume because you are using a tripod that you must be a professional. I would plead ignorance, or buy a monopod - for some reason they never count monopods.

"do you have a license for that tripod, signore?"

sounds like a Peter Sellers movie.

<i><font color=blue>"If you are a professional photographer you need a permit to photograph state own property in Rome. They assume because you are using a tripod that you must be a professional."</font></i>

This is correct. Pleading ignorant will not help. Even if you can manage to lie and tell them you are a student, when the <i>Carabinieri</i> tell you no, they mean no. At least they won't confiscate your memory card.

Other places are more strict than Italy. There are times when you can get away with tripod shots without being told to stop. It depends. But don't event think of opening a tripod in the Forum or an art museum, unless you like Roman authority types running after you, waving a finger no.

I am so glad I went to the other travel site and then asked about it here. I never knew anything about this! We are planning two weeks in Rome this December and we were both planning on taking our tripods with us just to get the low light shots we really want. I guess we will have to try to make due with putting the camera on flat surfaces for low light shots and our monopods. Such a bummer

I also wonder why it does not mention this in ANY of the travel books I have purchased??? This is a very good travel warning for people and they should know about it.

Well we used a tripod many times in Rome and never had a problem.

I have a tripod which isn't that heavy. So I'm going to pack it either way.

If they stop me, they stop me.

If you can read Italian, this page and others on the site may interest you, from many angles:
www.fotografi.org/abrogata_licenza.htm