From 1st July 2014 new rules have been introduced by the Culture and Tourism Minister Dario Franceschini for all StateMuseums and Archaeological sites in Italy: free entry for all on the first Sunday of every month, charge for all visitors over 25, two scheduled open museum nights a year at €1, late evenings every Friday.

Stating the reasons behind these new rules, Dario Franceschini explains that he wanted to conform to the rules already in place in other European countries and make the system fairer, given the fact that at the moment more than a third of visitors a year does not pay any entry fees.

From 1st July 2014 free entry tickets will only apply to under 18s and some other categories such as teachers, reductions will remain for under 25s, but there will be no more free entry/reductions for over 65s, however there will be free entry for all every first Sunday of the month.

In addition to the free entry for everybody on the first Sunday of each month, there will be two “Night at the Museum” in a year with the night opening of museums and archaeological sites at the cost of €1.

Also every Friday the major Museums (including also the Colosseum, Pompeii and the Uffizi Galleries) will remain open until 10pm.

The Minister commented that with the introduction of these new rules he intends to reinforce the importance of the Italian Museums system, to make it more efficient in its self-financing and responsible for their own success.

PS: Please note that the above refers only to State-runMuseums and Archaeological sites, local and private museums will continue to apply their own fees systems. The visitors, therefore, should check before visiting.

Press office

Italian National Tourist Board

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