«The first data received from the General Directorate of Museums tells me that it was a success and I want to thank the employees of the Ministry of Culture, from managers to custodians, to all those who worked voluntarily on this initiative that I felt was necessary for us, especially for the many Italian and foreign tourists who flock to our cities of art.” The Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, said this when talking to journalists on the sidelines of the visit to Palazzo Barberini in Rome, referring to the first figures on museum attendance during the Christmas holidays.
The vast majority of Italian museums remained open on Christmas morning. Could extraordinary openings become commonplace? “They should be – replied Sangiuliano – I also did comparative work with other museums and with other institutions from other European nations and we are more or less on the same line”. «We – added the minister – are working to bring tourism flows to the so-called secondary museums but which are not secondary because if they existed abroad they would be first class museums. The fact is that we, with all our heritage, do not realize this. Especially during peak periods, such as summer – concludes Sangiuliano – we must try to change the direction of tourism and we are also working with all commercial organizations to do this”.
Source: IL Tempo
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
