Uffizi Closed, No AC

Visitors are not allowed access to the Uffizi starting in the late morning of August 4 because the gallery’s air conditioning stopped working.

Director Eike Schmidt attributes the cause to a lack of water in the unit, which has arrived to resolve the problem, and technicians are currently repairing the system.

The Uffizi’s masterpieces will not be affected by the temporary rise in temperatures, commented Schmidt, who also initially announced the museum should reopen later in the day.  In the afternoon, he issued a statement that the gallery will re-open tomorrow, August 5.  Many tourists waited outside in the heat hoping to get in and were later offered the opportunity to re-book their visit and come back or have their ticket reimbursed.

To read more in Italian, visit Florence’s La Repubblica news site.