Uffizi Director Verde Oversees Botticelli Rehang Overnight

Simone Verde, director of the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, Italy, supervised the overnight reinstallation of Botticelli's "Primavera" and "Birth of Venus" into new custom cases that swing open for easier inspection. Verde arrived late for an interview after working until 3:30 a.m. and grabbing a few hours of sleep before returning for finishing touches. The museum, which attracted 5.3 million visitors last year, is undergoing renovations across 25 worksites at the Uffizi, Palazzo Pitti, and the Boboli Gardens. Verde, who became director in January 2024, aims to give visitors a sense of how the collections came together over centuries. The revamped Botticelli rooms are part of a broader reset of the museum's presentation.