Italy Drops Mandatory Booking for Small Museums on Weekends

The Italian government has accepted an appeal to remove mandatory weekend booking for museums that recorded fewer than one million visitors in 2019. The rule had been criticized by small museums, which rely on spontaneous visits. The appeal was led by Fondazione Musei Senesi, Musei di Maremma, and Associazione Nazionale Case della Memoria, addressed to Culture Minister Dario Franceschini. Signatories argued that advance booking forces small museums to remain closed if no reservations are made, damaging their image and service. The change allows continuous weekend opening with capacity management. The appeal was signed by twelve other Tuscan museum networks, including MAEC, ICOM Toscana, and Ecomuseo della Montagna Pistoiese. The article was updated on May 19, 2021.