In January I purchased tickets to both the Uffizi & Accademia in Florence for my planned trip this summer. Normally these tickets are not refundable or changeable. Obviously, it is highly likely, if not definite, that Italy will still be closed then. I have been unable to find any information about if they might be relaxing their refund policy. Does anyone here know anything that they can share?
Thanks in advance!
From what I can tell, at this point, you can get a voucher for visits up to May 3, as that is the date that the museums are closed until. I don't think you can do anything, yet, for dates farther out. I was supposed to arrive in Italy on May 4, so I am still waiting to see if I can do something about my tickets for museums between May 5 and May 12.
In case you haven't seen it, this is what I read at the Uffizi gallery site:
"We wish to inform visitors that the Uffizi Galleries’ museums (Uffizi, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens) along with their Library as well as their Historic Archive and Research Dept., remain closed until 3rd May 2020 in compliance with the Decrees of the Italian Prime Minister concerning the implementation of measures against COVID-19.
In compliance with the aforesaid Decree, also the Garden of the Scuderie Reali of Porta Romana (belonging to the Uffizi Galleries) is closed.
As per art. 88, c.3 of the Legislative Decree no.18 dated 17 March 2020, vouchers purchased on B-ticket web platform are refunded with an equivalent voucher to be used within 12 months from the date of issue. For any request, please write to paypren@operalaboratori.com.
For vouchers purchased through a private agency, it is necessary to contact the agency itself."
Thank you BB.
In brief follow up; If the Museum is closed you will be refunded via a voucher for a future visit within 12 months. There is no option for a cash refund. Italian institutions are bleeding money. The government is trying to save their economy, thus vouchers for prepaid tickets, hotel rooms etc.
If the Museum is open then you have your ticket. Just because your flight/trip etc is cancelled does not change anything nor provide an exception. You will need the Museum to be formally closed to receive your voucher. Sorry.
Can you turn your voucher in for a cash refund- no.
Thank you BB & onefastbob. Your answers confirmed what I had suspected. Given that I purchased the tickets on 2/7/20, I doubt that I'll be able to use them within a year from that date.
rab- Don’t give up hope. Unlike the French version (special law on vouchers vs refunds) the Italian regulation is a little more murky- I’ve yet to get a solid full English translation. It may be that the voucher is good for 12 months from the day the voucher is issued. Sorry but a wait and see moment.
A couple of notes:
- the special law written for the emergency states that the refund could be cash or voucher, but is the seller whom decide the form. In any case, if a voucher is issued, is valid 12 months from the date of your supposed visit, not the purchasing date: this means that if your visit was planned for August, the voucher will be valid until August 2021. You have 30 days after the fruition date to ask for the refund.
- to obtain the voucher is not a matter of opening or not, but if you can reach the museum or not. If in August Uffizi Gallery is opened but flights from US are still blocked, you are eligible for the refund. This is how we are understanding the special law.
My suggestion is to send an e-mail to the Uffici ticket office to be sure.
Ricky- Thank you for the clarification. The information will help many.
Reading better the two reference decrees I have written something wrong, or at least not so precise.
For ticket refunds theoretically the decree states that the refund request must be made 30 days, after the official publication, so before 16th of April. On several museums websites instead is written that the refund can be asked before 30 days from the day of the visit.
Another important problem. The decree has been written to solve an emergency and help the Italian citizens. Nothing is written about foreign tourists. I believe that at the moment all this refunds are applied to everybody, doesn't matter if Italian or not. But... I don't know what could happen in the future, mainly if in Italy the thing will be better but tourism still blocked from other countries.
Thank you ricky for providing an update on policy. It appears Mr. Conte has now extended the museum closings, providing an opening date of May 18, 2020. However, I have not seen an update on museum vouchers or refunds.
The decree has been presented Sunday afternoon and usually public museums are closed on Monday, so is normal that a website is not updated that day. Furthermore in Italy is usual wait the publication on the Official Gazette, that usually takes one day more.
Anyway, yes: at the moment the opening of museums has been postponed to the 18th of May.
I try to ask what the To are doing with foreign travellers.
One thing to keep in mind: in the last decree is still present the Article about quarantine. Any travellers for any reason arriving in Italy have to say where is going and where to stay for 14 days in self quarantine. Only after that period, if not sick or affected is free to move (respecting any other freedom of movement limit)
This morning I received an e-mail from noreply@operalaboratori.com - Subject: Reopening of the State Florentine Museums
Here's what it said in part: As for your booking, please read the opening times below that may be changed due to the Health Emergency
Re-opening of the Boboli Gardens, Thursday 21 May:
....
Re-opening of Palazzo Pitti, Thursday 28 May:
....
Re-opening of the Gallerie degli Uffizi, Wednesday 3rd June:
- Opening: from Wednesday to Sunday;
- closed on Mondays and Tuesdays;
- Hours:
from Wednesday to Friday from 14.00 to 18.30
Saturdays and Sundays from 9.00am to 18.30
- last admission is always one hour before closing time;
The entrance will be for people with the special ticket, groups with a guide are allowed, equipped with autonomous wi-fi radio-guide devices, up to 10 people spaced m. 1.80.
- Access to the Garden will be allowed only with the use of suitable CE masks (see Ordinance RT no. 48) covering mouth and nose.
- Body temperature will be measured with suitable instruments before access, it must not exceed 37.5.
Re-opening of the Galleria dell’Accademia, Tuesday 2nd June:
- Opening: from Tuesday to Sunday;
- closed every Monday of the month;
- Hours:
Tuesday to Friday from 9:00am to 14:00 until December 31st
Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am to 18:00 until December 31st;
- Last admission allowed at 13:20 (when it closes at 14:00) and at 17:20 (when it closes at 18:00)
- In the first phase and in any case until different dispositions, groups will not be admitted
- The following rooms will remain closed: Musical instruments, Byzantine side rooms and first floor.
Access to the museum will be allowed only with the use of suitable CE masks (see Ordinance RT no. 48) to cover the mouth and nose and disposable gloves.
Body temperature will be measured with suitable instruments before access, which must not exceed 37.5
Re-opening of the Cappelle Medicee, Tuesday 2nd June:
....
Re-opening of the Palazzo Davanzati Tuesday 2 June:
....
