Simone Verde, 48, comes from the Palazzo della Pilotta Museum in Parma, which he has directed since 2017. Prior to this, he was head of scientific research and publications for the Louvre Abu Dhabi (Agence France-Muséums), having studied Theoretical Philosophy in Rome and Paris, and acquiring a doctorate in anthropology of cultural heritage as well as a degree in museology and art history from the Ecole du Louvre.
Upon his appointment, the director stated that
“in these first days, the primary project checks will be carried out with the staff. The vision that inspires me is that of a consolidation of the significant results achieved by my predecessor, Eike Schmidt, and a powerful investment in services and museographic and museo-logical quality, supported by punctual scientific research activity”.
On January 17, 2024, on the occasion of the symbolic handing over of the key to the centuries-old door, there was the announcement of the renaming of the museum auditorium after the renowned art historian, Antonio Paolucci, who passed away on February 4, 2023, inaugurated with a dedicated plaque.
Among the various projects announced by Verde for the near future of the Galleries is
“a study centre named after Antonio Paolucci, founded on the basis of his book collection donated to the Uffizi, the creation of a section at the Gallery of Statues and Paintings on the history of the collections, an entire relaunch of the Treasury of the Grand Dukes and of Palazzo Pitti and the launch of an open storage project in Palazzo Pitti to offer the public the possibility of viewing the Palazzo’s prestigious heritage of historical furniture”.
In March, it was announced that paperless tickets will be in effect by May, with museum goers receiving a code by email. Other innovations include nights at the museum every Tuesday from March 26 to December 17, with the hopes that Florentines will make the most of the city’s artistic treasure, with the gallery open until 9.30pm.
