Petition demands free Uffizi entry for all Florence university students

A petition on Change.org, launched by Leonardo Margarito with Matteo Cichero and the Rendelex studio, demands free admission to the Uffizi Galleries for all university students enrolled in the Florence metropolitan area, regardless of their field of study. The petition follows the museum's recent ticket price increase from €20 to €25 for single entry during high season (March to October), implemented on March 1, 2023, to cover rising energy and construction costs. The price hike was approved by the museum's board and defended by director Eike Schmidt and Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano. While visitors under 26 pay only €2, and those under 18 enter free, residents receive no discount. Current Italian law (Ministerial Decree November 17, 2020, n. 189, art. 4) grants free entry only to students enrolled in specific degree programs: conservation of cultural heritage, education sciences, archaeology, art history, or at fine arts academies. The petition argues for broader access to foster cultural engagement among youth, citing international museum practices. The initiative has sparked debate, with art historian Tomaso Montanari, rector of the University for Foreigners of Siena, criticizing the price increase as a grave error that makes culture a matter of wealth, contrary to the Italian Constitution.