Italy's Uffizi Gallery reopens after 2 month closure

Florence's Uffizi Gallery reopened its doors on Thursday to hundreds of mask-wearing visitors eager to see paintings by Italian Renaissance masters including Botticelli, da Vinci and Michelangelo.

The world-renowned gallery had been closed for two and a half months after an exponential rise in coronavirus cases late last year forced the Italian Health Ministry to imposed localised restrictions across the country.

With over four million guests in 2019, the Uffizi Gallery was the most-visited museum in Italy, but – like other tourist attractions across the country – footfall has fallen dramatically since the start of the pandemic.

"It is a really important and unique place," said the Gallery's Director, Eike Schmidt, speaking to reporters on Thursday.

"Now that visitors return, they can get in touch directly with these treasures of mankind but also with these testimonies of their own history."

The Uffizi has implemented a series of safety measures to control the spread of the virus, including temperature scanners at the entrance, containers of antibacterial gel placed around the gallery, and markings on the floor to indicate safe social distancing.

Other restrictions include compulsory facemasks and strict limits on the number of visitors allowed inside the building at any one time.

But even with some museums and galleries tentatively reopening, businesses across Florence are struggling  to survive with so few international tourists.

Lorenzo Parigi, who owns two cafés in the historical centre, says his annual turnover in 2020 was down significantly.

"In one café, we have lost 73 percent of our profits. In the other one, 57 percent," he said. "I have really no expectations for 2021 so far."

Business owners across Italy reliant on the tourist trade are in a similar position.

Bernabo Bocca, President of the Italian Hotels Federation, said the 2020 financial year would end with a 60 per cent fall in tourist numbers and an overall loss of 15 billion euros.

And the Italian economy as a whole is expected to shrink by up to 10.8 percent in 2021, according to figures published by the General Confederation of Italian Industry.