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Uh-oh, looks like Free Sundays are back (EDITED!)

Okaydoke, the Ministero Della Cultura has finally posted something on their website since I looked this AM so here it is from the horse's mouth. It is in Italian but running the text through google translate:

https://cultura.gov.it/domenicalmuseo

Free Sundays are back in state museums every first Sunday of the
month, free admission to all state museums, archaeological parks and
places of culture.

Info and methods of access on the websites of the individual
institutes.

Following the adoption of the Decree-Law of 24 March 2022, no. 24,
which sanctioned the cessation of the state of emergency for the
COVID-19 epidemic, free Sundays return to places of culture. Starting
from Sunday 3 April, every first Sunday of the month, the state
museums, archaeological parks and places of culture will guarantee
free access to all visitors who will thus be able to return to benefit
from a unique initiative to promote knowledge of cultural heritage
Italian.

Even visits on free Sundays, such as those that will take place during
ordinary visiting days, must take place in full compliance with the
new security measures provided for by the aforementioned Decree. From
1 April 2022 to access monuments, museums, galleries, parks,
monumental gardens of the State, the possession of the reinforced
green pass or the basic one will no longer be required, while the use
of surgical masks will remain.

Some locations can be visited by reservation only. The Ministry of
Culture recommends that you consult the detailed sheets before
planning your visit.

Following this text is a list of applicable museums, archeological and cultural sites grouped by region, and live-linked to their respective Ministry of Culture info pages. Those are in Italian but contain links to the individual email addresses and websites for each attraction, if they have them. Very helpful, that!

I'm giving this an "Uh-oh" as I don't know how this will work for visitors who have already purchased tickets/tours. Generally, tours are not allowed on Free Sundays, and it's unsure if people who've already purchased tickets will be given priority, refunds or what-have-you. Also, Free Sundays, aside from Borghese (which is sticking with mandatory, timed-entry reservations for free days but just for a small reservation fee) have been historically been the day you do NOT want to go near the most-visited of Italy's participating sites as they're completely mobbed and queues are very long.

This is very recent news so the museums are probably scrambling to figure out how they'll individually handle the details. I glanced at the ticketing sites for some of the biggies and noticed that they weren't selling any tickets for Sunday, April 3. As the Ministry recommended, anyone having tickets for/planning to visit the bigger museums/archeological sites on any upcoming first Sundays of a month should reference the individual websites for those venues for additional info. I'm guessing that anyone with tours booked for those Sundays might expect some communication from the booking source as well.

Posted by
58 posts

Thanks Kathy, I have reservations for Uffizi on May 1st. I emailed them to find out what, if anything will happen to my reservation. Very curious to see how they handle this. I'll let everyone know as soon as I hear back from them.

Posted by
15843 posts

stephaniern, thanks for the reminder of the extra pre-sale Borghese fee; reservations are € 2.00 + € 2.00 pre-sale fee so € 4.00 for adult Free Sunday reservations. I've edited my original post to include that. :O)

Jennifer, yes, please let us know what shakes out with your reservations! I'm as curious as you are how this is going to work for MANY of the attractions who've already sold tickets and tours.

Posted by
97 posts

Oh shoot, the only day I can see The Last Supper is Sunday, July 3rd. I guess I will have to hope I can snag 4 tickets.

Posted by
97 posts

I wasn't, I looked it up online and found some other site with 'Tips for getting Last Supper Tickets on Free First Sundays' so I assumed it is.

Regardless, I will find out when I go to book them. If I can't make it work we are travelling through Milan on the way to Varenna and maybe we can swing it during the stopover.

Posted by
274 posts

Wondering whether this means that the Firenze card will be returning soon??? We’ll be in Florence at the end of May, and I’ve held off on buying separate tickets with hopes that it will be offered again before our trip (we’ve been before so there’s nothing we HAVE to do). I’ll keep my fingers crossed 😬

Thanks for posting this update!

Posted by
15843 posts

Erin, Firenzecard only applied to the Florentine/Tuscan attractions it previously covered and was not otherwise a product of the greater network of Italian State Museums, although some State Museums, such as the Uffizi, were included on the pass. I wouldn't guess that Free Sundays at the State Museums will have any effect on whether this pass will become active again or not. It's a wait-and-see! 🤞

Posted by
274 posts

Yes, I understand that they’re two different “systems”, but thought maybe from a Covid-restrictions perspective, the easing of the crowd limitations for free Sundays across Italy might mean the Firenze card will be reactivated. Of course, this is pure wishful thinking on my part, as we’ve always gotten a tremendous benefit from it 😁

Posted by
15843 posts

I know what you mean, Erin! For me, it's restoring the Amici degli Uffizi card to its former excellent price value that I'd love to see. That one used to include many more museums than it currently covers, and unlimited visits to all of them during the 1-year life of the card. It was a great value for people spending longer than a few days in Florence, and was less expensive for the 2 of us (we bought the family card for $100 euros) than the Firenzecard. :O(

Posted by
58 posts

After several e-mails to Uffizi and b-ticket regarding my reservations that are now on a Free Sunday, Uffizi said they are forwarding my request to the "assigned office". I asked if they are issuing refunds and if the tickets are even valid at this point. We'll see.....

Regarding the Firenze Card, I contacted them directly a few weeks ago just before I purchased the Uffizi and Accademia tickets. They said that as of that time they had no date as to when they would go back online. Huge bummer for me as I am a history geek and have used the card before. It was very convenient.

Posted by
58 posts

Finally heard back from the Uffizi. Apparently, any reservations that had been made on the now "Free First Sunday" are not valid. I was told my credit card would be credited in a few days. Now to decide if I should still go on the day planned and brave the crowds or rework my itinerary. Urgh!! Any thoughts on how crowded it might be? I'm hoping not too bad since travel is just starting to pick up?

Posted by
15843 posts

On no! Jennifer, you can't go on Saturday? Not only is May 1 now a Free Sunday but it's a national holiday as well (Labour Day) and the museum is closed on Monday. For sure, I've no firsthand experience with what crowds are going to look like this particular year but with tourism is definitely picking up + the additional double whammy of a free day + holiday, I personally wouldn't go anywhere near the Uffizi. I'm so sorry they won't honor your tickets!

If all else fails, you might try stopping by later in the day and see what the queue looks like?

Posted by
58 posts

Kathy, thanks again for the heads up about the Free First Sunday. Although inconvenient for me and my itinerary, at least I have time make other arrangements. I feel for the people who are going to find out on the spot that their reservations are no good. Not just for the Uffizi, but across the country. This is going to cause much confusion.

Posted by
15843 posts

I'm concerned as well, Jennifer. Hope some folks with tickets or tours booked for 1st Sundays are paying attention. If I see how some of the other attractions are going to handle this last-minute hiccup. I'll share.

Posted by
128 posts

Tourism has definitely picked up in Rome, at least. The crowds have returned and lines are long. Do pay close attention to any reservations you have and double check them to ensure you are not turned away or moving with a large population through the venue.