Many museums in Florence will be celebrating Women’s International Day on March 8th by giving all women free entry to visit their marvelous collections!
This will include the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia Gallery, the Medici Chapels, the Bargello National Museum and Palazzo Davanzati as far as the state museums go, while all city museums will offer free entry to women. This includes Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Maria Novella, the Brancacci Chapel and the Novecento museum.
The Medici Chapels, in particular, is offering a very interesting lecture on Anna Maria de’ Medici at 10am. It is a special way to honor this woman and her important contribution to the patrimony of the city of Florence, and will present the perfect occasion to highlight all she did in the last 6 years of her life after her brother, Gian Gastone died and she was the sole member of the Medici family left in the city. The guided visit will also highlight the latest research on her remains and restoration of her funeral attire. Meeting spot for the special guided visit is near her sepulcher.
Beware of the General Strike!
The bad news for the day is that many trade unions in both the public and private sector have also declared a national general strike for March 8 so opening of some of these museums are not at all guaranteed. The Uffizi Gallery has so far announced that it will guarantee opening in the morning, from 8.15am to 1.50pm, as well as the Pitti Palace’s Palatine Gallery and Modern Art museum. The Accademia Gallery has done the same. The others remain to be seen…. so keep this in mind as you visit Florence and its many sites of interest tomorrow!
