Italian politics
The Week in Art podcast | Arts and the UK election, ex-Uffizi head fails in Florence mayoral bid, Hank Willis Thomas at Glastonbury
What a change in government might mean for the UK culture sector, a close look at Eike Schmidt’s unsuccessful campaign, and Willis Thomas discusses displaying his new afro pick sculpture at the world’s biggest music festival
Former Uffizi chief Eike Schmidt enters race to become mayor of Florence
The German-born curator will step back from his new role as Capodimonte museum director
Museum president in Italy resigns following backlash over Giorgia Meloni picture
The inverted photo of the Italian prime minister has drawn comparisons to images of Benito Mussolini's execution
Is Italy’s government meddling in who runs top museums?
Cultural figures voice concern about culture ministry’s appointments to run institutions including Florence’s Uffizi Galleries and Milan’s Pinacoteca di Brera
Italy’s embattled junior culture minister resigns amid scandals
The critic, curator and commentator Vittorio Sgarbi was being pressured to resign amid multiple investigations into his conduct
No confidence vote against Italian junior culture minister postponed
Vittorio Sgarbi is being investigated for allegedly laundering an Old Master painting
Italian politicians call on government to sack minister involved in art theft case
Vittorio Sgarbi has been accused of laundering a stolen 17th-century painting attributed to Rutilio Manetti
Artist Tania Bruguera urges Italian government to 'take a stance' after hundreds give fascist salute at Rome rally
The event reportedly took place to mark the 46th anniversary of the killing of three neo-fascists on Via Acca Larentia in southeast Rome
Italian museums undergo mass leadership reshuffle with Eike Schmidt out at the Uffizi
The Florence museum chief has been named director of Naples's Capodimonte with new leaders also appointed in Milan and Rome as part of right-wing government strategy
Uffizi director Eike Schmidt hits out at mayor of Florence—fuelling rumours of his own political ambitions
Schmidt has criticised Dario Nardella for plans to deploy security guards at shopping centres in the city, after suggestions for similar protection at the museum were rejected
Can AI unlock the ancient Herculaneum scrolls?
Plus, the appointment of the new Venice Biennale president sparks a political row, and a tender portrait by Dorothea Lange
Italy appoints right-wing journalist as Venice Biennale president
Members of Italy’s ruling coalition have described the 128-year-old exhibition as a "fiefdom" of the left
First week of Italy's Pantheon price hike nets €200,000
Previously free, a standard tourist ticket to the ancient site now costs €5
A warehouse full of art: what will happen to Silvio Berlusconi’s collection?
Italy’s controversial former prime minister, who died in June, amassed tens of thousands of works—of varying quality
Artists take aim at Italy’s attack on same-sex parents’ rights
As the country's far-right government cracks down on LGBTQ rights, public artworks are popping up in protest
Unpredictable art critic vs hard right minister: Italy’s senior politicians clash over cultural policy
Issues such as free museums and safeguarding heritage are splitting the opinions of two officials in the Brothers of Italy party which swept to power in September
In with the cuffs, out with the glue: Italian climate change protestors chain themselves to chapel banister
The Scrovegni Chapel in Padua is home to masterpieces by the Italian Medieval painter Giotto
Mussolini family feuds over reopened crypt of fascist Italian dictator
The controversial site has become a pilgrimage for far-right supporters
Pressure mounts for Italy to buy Torlonia marbles—world's finest collection of Greco-Roman antiquities still in private hands
As a landmark exhibition in Rome draws to a close, government's plans for long-hidden group of ancient sculpture remain unclear
How to save Venice: a five-point plan by a leading citizen
Polls show that Venetians are about to re-elect a populist mayor who promises to bring back all the tourists—but none of the other eight candidates has presented a realistic alternative
Artist creates black-faced portrait of Italian far-right politician Matteo Salvini
Current bid for re-imagined image of the controversial party leader stands at €45,000 in online auction
Steve Bannon’s nationalists can stay in medieval monastery (for now)
In the first round of a lengthy legal battle, an Italian court has ruled in favour of a right-wing Catholic organisation which the Ministry of Culture is trying to oust from a historic abbey
Artist defends anti-racism football campaign that uses images of monkeys
Italian football league—which commissioned the paintings made by Simone Fugazzotto—have now apologised saying they are "inappropriate"
Culture ministry failed to vet right-wing religious group close to Steve Bannon
Decision to lease Italian medieval monastery to an organisation affiliated with President Trump’s former chief strategist is blamed on staff shortages
Italian politician Matteo Salvini blasts sculpture showing him shooting refugees
Piece by Salvatore Scuotto instigates violence and should be removed, he says
The last of the great private Roman collections re-emerges
A 40-year struggle between Italy and the Torlonia family ends with major show in 2020
Italian court blocks loan of Leonardo's Vitruvian Man to Louvre
The ruling also suspends the wider agreement for the exchange of works of art between France and Italy
Don’t believe what you read in the papers: Venice won't lose its cruise ships any time soon
A lack of a long-term plan combined with the economic benefits brought by the luxury liners means a cruise ship ban will take long to implement