Yesterday, I read an article in CNN’s Travel section, Italy has a new way to combat overtourism, by Julia Buckley. My mother was born and raised in Florence, so I immediately stopped what I was doing to read the latest news. This article is specific to Florence and The Uffizi Gallery.
Before COVID, anyone who had traveled to Italy experienced first hand overtourism. In Florence, it was impossible to walk on the streets. So many tourists, we were elbow to elbow with them. It was not an enjoyable, add to that making sure you were not pick pocketed, due to the crowds.
This article talks about a new project, Uffizi Diffusi, which means “scattered Uffizi.” Eike Schmidt, Director of the Uffizi, came up with the idea of multiple (100) exhibition spaces for art from the Uffizi to be displayed all over Tuscany. This does two things, it shares the tourism burden and also allows locals to visit exhibits in their area.
COVID has allowed Florence to take a breath from the fast paced tourism. To think, plan and re-invent tourism for the future. My mother’s relatives are out in the country, it’s nice, no tourists. Selfishly, I hope it stays that way.
If you have been to Florence or have planned to go, you can read the article for more details.
Brilliant Viewpoint 
I was in Florence back in 1980 on a backpacking trip and thought it was crowded then!
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Yes, it’s always been a bit crowded, but before COVID it really had gotten out of hand. Now, they’ve had no tourists, this is tough on businesses, but at the same time, they have been welcoming the quiet time to explore their own cities with their families. Same in America, we are starting to explore States/cities close to where we live, because we cannot travel Internationally right now.
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I was also in Florence in the 1980s but don’t recall crowds, even though we saw so much of the city’s art and architecture. Perhaps it was because I was a student at the time and didn’t really notice the other people. I was too focused on those wonderful works of the Renaissance.
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I’ve visited Florence and the Uffizi and I missed things because there were so many people I couldn’t see the art pieces!
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So, it will be time for you to go back and explore the surrounding cities and the Uffizi exhibits. 🙂
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Yes it will! I want to take my husband, he would love it too.
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We were supposed to go to Florence last year…
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Oh… so many people had to cancel their plans. Well, now you will have more to explore when you go.
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One of these days
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Very interesting. I love Florence, and traveling to other less touristy towns. I will be interested to see how this works.
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Yes, I will too.
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I had no idea it was that crowded? Is there a best time of year to go? My friend went to Rome once over Christmas and said it was great.
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I would say… Oct, Nov & late Feb/March & beginning of April. December can be cold… all other months are really high season, especially the summer.
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Thanks!
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There is also another very interesting event planned for Florence. The (re)opening of the Vasari Corridor. It is an indoor corridor that goes from Palazzo Pitti to the Uffizi.
That should provide, among other things, also more room for exhibitions, and take some tourists off the Ponte Vecchio and other narrow spots. Hopefully.
The opening is planned for spring 2022.
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Wow – that’s good. I heard about that, it’s a secret passage that goes through the top of the buildings in the Ponte Vechhio. Thanks for sharing.
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Not so secret. It is very visible
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By the way, you have a lovely website. My mother was born and raised in Florence. We have relatives in Rufina, outside of Florence. I forgot how I found your website, but I was immediately HAPPY see a site from a fellow Italian. 🙂
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Thank you. I’d like to write more about Italy, but traveling is challenging these days.
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