Florence's world famous museum reopens

After 85 days of closure due to the pandemic lockdown, the Uffizi Galleries in Florence opened their doors on Wednesday to hundreds of mask-wearing visitors eager to see paintings by Italian Renaissance masters Botticelli, Raphael, Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Speaking to reporters, museum director Eike Schmidt said that in the spring months when the museum was closed they lost roughly one million visitors and 12 million euros in revenue.

The Uffizi Galleries have implemented a series of safety measures including thermo scanners at the entrance to measure the temperature of visitors, containers of antibacterial gel, and markings on the floor to indicate safe social distancing.

The number of people in the galleries will now be limited to only 450 at any one time. According to Schmidt this will allow visitors to do what he calls "slow museum."

"Instead of coming in, taking two or three selfies and rushing out, visitors can come and really spend some time and really look at the works of art and feel the emotions that these works of art always transmit," he explained.

Italy imposed a national lockdown March 11th as the coronavirus spread rapidly in northern Italy.  To date, more than 33,000 people in Italy have died from complications related to the virus and over 233,000 have been reported to be infected.

However, the actual number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.

In recent weeks Italy has entered phase two of it's measures designed to combat the pandemic, easing restrictions with stores, restaurants and museums beginning to open again.

(Representative Image)