Florence's skyline, long defined by Renaissance landmarks like Brunelleschi's dome and Giotto's bell tower, has finally shed an unexpected addition: a 197-foot yellow crane that stood above the Uffizi Galleries for almost two decades. The crane, installed in 2006 to support museum expansion efforts, became a persistent feature—and frequent frustration—for locals and the millions of tourists hoping for an unobstructed view of the city's historic center, per the New York Times. The crane's removal this week was met with widespread approval. "For years it wasn't possible to take a photograph that didn't include the crane," said architect Giacomo Tempesta, echoing the weariness felt by many.
Local officials described the moment as significant. Uffizi director Simone Verde noted that an elderly man recently begged him to remove the equipment so he could "see the courtyard without a crane" before he died, but he suggested the excitement over the removal may be overblown. "We only removed a crane; we haven't built a pyramid," he tells the Times.
While the Uffizi's renovation isn't yet complete, Verde—who took over in January 2024—said construction was reorganized so the crane could finally go. The influencer behind a social media account that documented the crane's life in Florence admitted to having a bit of nostalgia as the crane disappeared in under two days. However, a second, smaller crane remains behind the museum—this one out of view. (This content was created with the help of AI. Read our AI policy.)
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