Italy's Uffizi Gallery reopens after 2 month closure

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

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

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

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

"w that visitors return, y can get in touch directly with se treasures of mankind but also with se testimonies of ir own history."

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

Or restrictions include compulsory facemasks and strict limits on number of visitors allowed inside 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 historical centre, says his annual turver in 2020 was down significantly.

"In one café, we have lost 73 percent of our profits. In or one, 57 percent," he said. "I have really expectations for 2021 so far."

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

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

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