Qatar's Sheikha Al-Mayassa Visits Uffizi Galleries

On August 21, 2018, Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, sister of Qatar's emir and one of the art world's most influential figures, made a private visit to the Uffizi Galleries in Florence. Accompanied by her husband, Sheikh Jassim bin Abdul Aziz Al-Thani, Qatar's Minister of Commerce and Industry, she toured the exhibition 'Islam and Florence. Art and Collecting from the Medici to the 20th Century' with director Eike Schmidt. She also viewed the newly renovated rooms dedicated to Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo. The visit underscores the Uffizi's growing international prestige under Schmidt's leadership, which has seen increased visitor numbers, social media growth, and high-profile partnerships. The museum also announced new acquisitions: 43 drawings by Baroque sculptor Massimiliano Soldani Benzi for the Gabinetto dei Disegni e delle Stampe. Additionally, the museum continues its gallery reinstallation, with room 7 now showcasing early Florentine Renaissance works by Masolino, Masaccio, and Beato Angelico, easing overcrowding in adjacent rooms.