The Uffizi is booming with evening visits. A signal for museums to always open in the evening?

In Florence, the Uffizi recorded a real boom in visitation during the eight evening appointments in June and July: the evening openings, which were held every Tuesday, marked a +22% increase over the 2018 edition. In absolute terms, there were 9,690 “night” visitors to the Gallery of Statues and Paintings during 7-10 p.m. hours, a sign that the public likes the evening openings. Last year, 7,937 visitors came to the Uffizi after the usual closing time.

“The initiative of the Gallery being open in the evening is growing,” said Uffizi Director Eike Schmidt, “and this is understandable, because it allows for a different experience, a different and more relaxed journey from the usual one. The rooms are less crowded, even the light changes; plus, you can, if you wish, indulge in a romantic aperitif or a refreshing gelato at dusk on the terrace overlooking Piazza Signoria. It’s like being at the museum at a time of low attendance, but with the enchantment of the beauty of Florence kissed by the summer sunset coming in through the windows. So it is a very special experience, which I invite all Uffizi lovers and also all those who want to discover this magical gallery for the first time to try.”

And perhaps the high turnout at the Uffizi in the evening appointments (an average of more than 1,000 visitors per evening) could be a clear sign, because visits during dinner hours or immediately afterwards attract audiences: so it might be time to have a serious discussion about whether museums should always be kept open in the evening.

Pictured: the western corridor of the Uffizi in the evening.

The Uffizi is booming with evening visits. A signal for museums to always open in the evening?

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