8 places to prevent you from taking pictures

In this digital age, where taking pictures is second nature, it's hard to imagine a world without the ability to capture the moment on our smartphones or cameras. However, there are still places in the world that strictly prohibit photography. Whether it's due to privacy concerns, cultural sensitivity, or security reasons, these places have imposed strict rules to preserve their sanctity.

Here are eight locations around the world where taking photos is strictly prohibited.

Sistine Church

The Sistine Basilica in Vatican City is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, which is why it is unfortunate that tourists are not allowed to take photos or videos inside. The church underwent restoration work from 1980 to 1994, funded by the Nippon Television Network of Japan. The cost of the restoration ended up at $4.2 million, and in return Nippon received the exclusive rights to photograph the artwork (photos and films).  This copyright has already expired three years after each part of the restoration is completed, but the Vatican decided to keep the photography ban in place to protect precious works of art from harmful camera flashes.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is not just a magnificent Gothic church. It has been the Coronation Church of British Kings since 1066. However, no matter how historically or spectacular it is, you are not allowed to take pictures inside it. Fortunately, there's a good reason for that, according to the church's website. "We want you to enjoy its unique beauty and history without the distractions that large-scale photography may bring. We want to preserve the sacred and intimate atmosphere of the building, which is, above all, a living and functioning church." You can take pictures inside the monasteries, the buildings attached to the cathedral, and the garden of the church complex.

Eiffel Tower

If you're planning a romantic getaway in Paris, don't consider posting a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower after dark. Taking night photos of the Eiffel Tower is technically illegal, but the problem is not related to the building itself. The Snopes.com website explains that the light show on the Eiffel Tower, installed by Pierre Bedout in 1985, is actually an artistic display and is protected by copyright. Since the lights shine every five minutes from dusk until one in the morning – and a dark tower without lights is not attractive – taking a night photo that doesn't infringe copyright is neither possible nor desirable.

Supreme Court

During your visit to the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., you can definitely take selfies of public places. However, courtroom photography, which is probably why you came to the Supreme Court in the first place, is prohibited, thanks to Federal Rule 53, which states: "Unless otherwise provided by law or these rules, the court shall not allow courtroom photographs to be taken during judicial proceedings or broadcast from the courtroom.

Tower of London

There is a lot to see in the Tower of London. Architecture, past armor of royalty people, historical artifacts, and a Beefeater tour. Arguably the most valuable feature is the Jewel House, which has housed magnificent crown jewels since 1661. Unfortunately, you can't take pictures of crown jewels for security reasons. With creepy security guards watching your every move as you walk through the Jewel House, you won't even want to try.

Las Vegas Casinos

According to lasvegasadvisor.com, Las Vegas casinos have long banned photography and on-floor photography to ensure the privacy of players, prevent fraud, and protect the casino from potential theft. Today, some casinos still strictly adhere to this rule, while others have given space to people who just want a few shots of their collection for personal use. If you're not sure about the casino's photography rules and start shooting, you can bet that security will make its way and tell you straight.

Post Office

So far, none of the sites on this list have been so surprising. But the post office? It's true? Yes, there are indeed guidelines for taking photos at the post office within the United States that you can only take photos for personal use at the discretion of the post office manager, as long as they do not disrupt employees and are taken in publicly accessible areas. But hey, there's another big caveat. "No photo can depict any postal service employee, customer, security camera, or mail cover (i.e., the outside of a mailing message, which would show the customer's name and address among other things)." Once you've removed all of these things from the equation, there's not much you might want to take a picture of anyway.

Neuschwanstein Castle

This castle, dating back to the nineteenth century, is also called the "Castle of the King of Fairy Tales", and is among the most visited castles in Germany and the world. Unfortunately, photography or photography is not allowed inside, but at least you can take a picture of the atmosphere of the Disney Princess Castle from the outside.