Eike Schmidt
In this photo made available Thursday, April 22, 2021, the underground area of the Uffizi Gallery is seen after renovation works, in Florence, Italy, Friday, April 16, 2021 . Recently discovered frescoes and new rooms filled with statuary will give visitors “a glorious introduction” Florence’s Uffizi Galleries when the museum reopens after months of COVID closure. Starting with the reopening, visitors will enter the museum from the west wing, facing the Arno River, where workers restoring galleries have discovered hidden beneath plaster and on ceilings frescoes dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. (Uffizi Gallery via AP)
Italy's Uffizi discovers lost frescoes during COVID shutdown

By Colleen Barry Apr. 23, 2021 07:42 AM EDT

One of the famous Rome's cats passes by, as a concert for the reopening of ancient Colosseum is being presented Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, in a partial lifting of restriction measures aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19. Italy has eased its coronavirus restrictions Monday for most of the country downgrading Lazio and other regions from medium-risk orange zones to lower-risk yellow zones. (Cecilia Fabiano /LaPresse via AP)
Small pleasures as Italy reopens after Christmas lockdowns

By Trisha Thomas And Elisa Colella Feb. 01, 2021 11:52 AM EST

Visitors arrive on the reopening day of the Uffizi museum, in Florence, Italy, Wednesday, June 3, 2020. The Uffizi museum reopened to the public after over two months of closure due to coronavirus restrictions. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
No crowds delight art lovers in Italy at reopened museums

By Trisha Thomas And Frances D'emilio Jun. 03, 2020 12:01 PM EDT

In this Dec. 5, 2018 photo German art historian and director of the Uffizi galleries, Eike Schmidt, poses for portraits before holding a press conference at the Foreign Press Club in Rome. On Monday, April 20, 2020, Italy was completing its sixth week of nationwide lockdown with at least two more weeks to go, as part of government efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. Schmidt expects a boom in visitors after pandemic restrictions end, judging by the experience after previous emergencies closed down one of the world’s most popular museums. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Uffizi, accustomed to taming crowds, looks to outbreak's end

By Frances D'emilio Apr. 20, 2020 10:52 AM EDT