Cloudburst in Florence: rain pours into the Uffizi and historic Palazzo Pitti
At the Uffizi Gallery, water leaked under the skylight of a room holding seven 17th-century paintings including Caravaggio's Bacchus. Rain entered Palazzo Pitti, closing rooms in the Modern Art Gallery.
Published on 17/09/2026 - 19:10 GMT+2•Updated 19:14
On Thursday 17 September, a torrential downpour flooded Florence, with more than 45 millimetres of rain falling in just one hour.
In the Uffizi Gallery, a small leak appeared beneath the skylight in the room where seven 17th-century paintings are kept, including Bacchus by Caravaggio.
"The leak splashed the outer glass of the protective case containing Caravaggio's Bacchus," the museum wrote in a statement. It added: "No damage whatsoever has been found to any of the works. The room will be open to visitors as normal from opening time tomorrow morning."
"Before visitors' eyes, the image of the 1598 oil on canvas appeared blurred and marked by long rivulets of water," reported Corriere della Sera.
Water also found its way into Palazzo Pitti, the historic Renaissance palace in Florence dating back to 1446.
Specifically, the floors of the Palatine Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art are said to have been flooded, with some exhibition areas reportedly closed off, according to Cisl union representative Silvia Barlacchi.
In this case it is still not clear how the rain made its way inside, whether through open windows or because of fixtures that are perhaps a little too old.
