Free museum Sundays boost attendance across southern Italy
Italy's culture ministry reported record attendance for the first Sunday of April 2017, when state museums and archaeological sites offered free entry and extended hours. The Colosseum led with 24,397 visitors, followed by Pompeii (19,853) and the Royal Palace of Caserta (15,106). Southern and central regions showed strong performances: the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (6,660), the National Museum of Taranto (1,615), and the National Museum of Reggio Calabria (1,508) matched or exceeded top venues like the Galleria Borghese (1,926) and the Bargello (1,850). Pompeii tripled its February figure of 6,185, while Caserta more than doubled March's 7,470. The initiative, championed by culture minister Dario Franceschini, has proven increasingly popular since its introduction.
Key facts
- Free admission on first Sunday of each month is a recurring MIBACT initiative.
- April 2017 saw extended hours due to daylight saving time.
- Colosseum: 24,397 visitors (highest).
- Pompeii: 19,853 visitors (tripled from February's 6,185).
- Royal Palace of Caserta: 15,106 (more than double March's 7,470).
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea: 4,120 visitors under new director Cristiana Collu.
- Southern museums like Taranto (1,615) and Reggio Calabria (1,508) rivaled Rome and Florence venues.
- Lowest attendance: Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria (824) and National Archaeological Museum of Venice (751).
Entities
Artists
- Cristiana Collu
- Dario Franceschini
- Helga Marsala
Institutions
- MIBACT
- Colosseum
- Pompeii
- Royal Palace of Caserta
- Boboli Gardens
- Uffizi Gallery
- Palatine Gallery
- Accademia Gallery Florence
- National Roman Museum
- National Archaeological Museum of Naples
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
- Royal Museums of Turin
- Pinacoteca di Brera
- Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia
- Palazzo Reale di Genova
- Castello di Miramare
- Galleria Nazionale delle Marche
- National Archaeological Museum of Taranto
- National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria
- Galleria Borghese
- Bargello Museum
- Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria
- National Archaeological Museum of Venice
- Artribune
- Mibact
- Uffizi Galleries
- National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN)
- Museo di Capodimonte
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Pompeii
- Caserta
- Florence
- Naples
- Turin
- Milan
- Venice
- Genoa
- Trieste
- Taranto
- Reggio Calabria
- Perugia
- Marche