The Friends of the Uffizi was established in 2006 as the United States “sister” organization to the Amici degli Uffizi, in Florence, Italy.
In response to the May, 1993 terrorist bombing that damaged several art works and portions of the Uffizi Gallery, Amici was founded in Florence by a group of concerned citizens, including Contessa Maria Vittoria Colonna Rimbotti, the current President of both organizations.
A United States based tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, the Friends of the Uffizi, was created to support the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, by raising awareness of the Uffizi and its cultural treasures and by providing resources for acquisition, preservation, restoration and education.