I feel extremely honored to have had the opportunity to travel to Florence and enjoy each and every one of the special events you planned for the occasion. From the visit the Ornellaia Winery, to the dinner at the Castle della Gherardesca hosted by the lovely Contessa Sibilla, followed by the visit to the soon to be open Marino Marini Museum, the magnificent concert by the Marinisky Orchestra at the Palazzo Piti’s Sala Bianca, and the highlight, the private tour of the Uffizi Gallery, the trip was a once in a lifetime experience! Special thanks to Contessa Maria Vittoria Colonna Rimbotti for making it happen and for hosting a magnificent farewell dinner that was truly memorable.

If you love art, if you love history, and if you love the idea of being a steward of our global cultural heritage so it will be available for many generations to come, then don’t wait to join the Friends of the Uffizi Galleries! I am one of many Friends enthusiasts who support the treasures of the Uffizi and its related museums through contributions for restorations and participation in unique events and educational programming. I have attended two unforgettable Florentine Weekends and particularly enjoyed our special access to the Uffizi (especially the Vasari Corridor!) and private tours of the exhibitions. As an educator in museum studies, it is particularly enlightening to follow the recent renovations to the galleries containing some of the most beloved objects by several of the greatest masters, such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Botticelli. It is inspiring to see how beautifully the museum has achieved a delicate balance between tradition and innovation to deliver an extraordinary new experience for its many visitors–and to know the Friends supported these restorations. I encourage you to attend one of our upcoming events to learn more about the Friends and participate in the preservation of all that is wonderful at the Uffizi Galleries.

As a new but enthusiastic Board member of Friends of the Uffizi Galleria, I can assure all who may be interested that you should join this group. The events are educational and fun. The trips are beyond memorable. And, of course, the ART! What a joy to be a small part of appreciating and saving these masterful works of art, the re-introduction to the Western world of the beauty and refinement of the classics. You do not need to be an art historian or studio artist or even Italian to feel a part of this movement…Just sign up.

Susan Connor

Looking back on the nearly 15 years since we started sharing this common path, I am filled with pride and joy for the remarkable steady growth of our organization and the unyielding enthusiasm and support of its members. Their inspired understanding of the urgent need to protect and preserve our endangered common cultural roots has made them true “Friends in Deed”. Whenever a restoration project is concluded I wonder at their devotion and generosity, and rejoice in the greater and greater importance and beauty and acclaim of our accomplishments. My gratitude and admiration are boundless.

The President, Maria Vittoria Colonna Rimbotti

To be associated with the Uffizi, one of the great museums worldwide, has been a source of joy for me. Contributing through Friends of the Uffizi to restoration of art treasures and conversion of the Renaissance building into an exemplary 21st century facility is enormously gratifying as a form of service to so many who are edified by the offerings of the Uffizi.

Howard J. Freedman
Legal Counsel, Friends of the Uffizi Gallery

July 1, 2019