Honest mistake or not?

This evening on my way to a yoga studio near Piazza Navona, I decided to step into the Museo di Roma which is located at Piazza San Pantaleo, 10.

Once you step in there, you are treated to beautiful sculptures on display and I thought it would make for an interesting visit.  I walked to the ticket desk trying to see if they had any brochures to find out what was the entrance fee.  I couldn’t seem to locate any but saw a display by the window listed the entrance fee for adult at €8.

This is where it gets interesting.  Even after seeing the price list I asked the man at the ticket counter ‘How much is the entrance fee?’  I really don’t know why I asked because it was clear that the fee was €8 as listed.  What shocked me was his reply.

Nonchalantly, he said €9.

I replied saying ‘Sorry but the price displayed here says it is €8.’

His reply again was €9.  He didn’t say any other word in English and that got me a bit irritated.  I asked him to clarify again and explained that the price on the display right in front of him says €8. I even showed him but he didn’t bother to acknowledge that and his answer was again €9.

Finally tired of this, I switched to Italian and said what I had said in English.  At last, a different reply.  He said in Italian ‘Ah yes, it’s €8’

I walked away questioning if this ‘Was an honest mistake or was he trying to make an extra €1 for himself?’  I guess most people would not question the additional €1 but I don’t really know what got into me this evening to verbally asked about the entrance fee when I had already seen it.

I would like to give this person the benefit of the doubt and to see if it was an honest mistake, I am going there again next week to ask about the entrance fee.  I will update you on the answer I get.

One last thing.  I went to the official website of the Museo di Roma and the listed entrance fee is €6.50 but the price depends on the current exhibition.

The lesson here is: Be firm and don’t let them take advantage of you just because you are guest in Rome.  They don’t have the right to rip you off, even for just €1.