tourism
Museum director causes trouble in Florence with criticism
A rush of visitors to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. photo
© Luca Bruno/AP/dpa
Cities like Florence and Venice suffer from the influx of too many tourists. The German museum director Cecilie Hollberg wants to draw attention to this problem – and chooses the wrong words.
The German director of the Galleria dell’Accademia museum in Florence, Cecilie Hollberg, got herself into a lot of trouble with a critical comment about her own city in Italy. With a view to the mass tourism that Florence is suffering from, Hollberg told journalists: “Once a city has become a whore, it is difficult for it to become a virgin again. If the absolute brake is not applied now, there will be none Hope more.” She later apologized. But the excitement is still great.
The culture minister of the right-wing government in Rome, Gennaro Sangiuliano, described the statements as an insult to the whole of Italy. He also announced that he would examine “all suitable initiatives”. Former left-wing Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi – former mayor of Florence – also brought up the possibility of resigning. The city of Florence, with a population of 380,000, is one of the most visited cities in Italy with more than five million tourists every year. The cost of living is very high there.
The historian Hollberg has been at the helm of the museum since 2015, whose most famous work is the David statue by Michelangelo. The 57-year-old’s previous professional positions included Dresden, Hanover and Braunschweig. Until the end of last year, the German art historian Eike Schmidt also headed the Uffizi Museum in Florence. He has since moved to Naples as museum director. There is speculation that Schmidt could run as a candidate for mayor in the upcoming local elections for the center-right camp.
Hollberg also said in a press conference to journalists on Monday: “Florence is very beautiful. I would like it to go back to its residents and not be crushed by tourism.” But it is already too late. She later released a statement saying she loved the city and had used the “wrong words.” She told broadcaster Rai: “I have no desire to offend anyone – and certainly not the Florentines.” She wanted to make it clear that Florence must practice responsible tourism.