English Practice: The Uffizi Reopens

The Uffizi museum in Florence Italy is world famous for Renaissance masterpieces AND massive crowds, but this summer it’s a little different. Our Chris Lipsay paid a visit.

It’s been called a “treasure chest” of the Renaissance, now after nearly three months of Corona Virus shut down the Uffizi in Florence has finally been unlocked. Visitors a quick thermal scan and new rules of the road about where to walk and stand

Uffizi director Ika Schmidt says the pandemic changed museums forever, in some ways for the better.

“People actually won’t just need to look either coming close to a masterwork like Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’ they bump into somebody else or somebody else’s selfie, but they can really concentrate on the .”

“So you think would approve?” – “He certainly would.”

A contagion that so far halted tourism here, a gut-punch that’s feared the Italian economy 13% of GDP.

Even as sights reopen international flights remain largely grounded, meaning few can .

may have its advantages but for Italy’s bottom line it’s anything but normal. Chris Lipsay CBS News Florence.