Crowd Management Issues at Rome's Galleria Nazionale on Free Sunday

On November 6, 2016, Rome's Galleria Nazionale (formerly GNAM) experienced significant crowd management problems during its free admission Sunday, a government initiative by Minister Dario Franceschini. Despite the museum being open until 19:30 with last entry at 18:45, security personnel began turning away visitors at 18:25, claiming tickets had run out—despite the event being free. After persistent complaints from visitors, an employee eventually issued 50 additional entry passes. The incident was reported by Fabio Severino, an economist and columnist for Artribune Magazine, in an open letter to director Cristiana Collu. Severino praised Collu's renovation of the museum's layout and contemporary feel but criticized the unmotivated staff, lack of room numbering, and early closure of the bookshop at 19:15. He noted that the museum attracted a diverse, non-specialist audience, which he considered a success for the free Sunday policy, but urged better staff training and internal communication.