Cloudburst in Florence: rain pours into the Uffizi and historic Palazzo Pitti

Published on 17/09/2026 - 19:10 GMT+2 On Thursday 17 September a violent cloudburst flooded Florence, with more than 45 millimetres of rain falling in just one hour. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In the Uffizi Gallery a small leak appeared under the skylight in the room where seven 17th-century paintings are kept, including the Bacchus by Caravaggio. "The leak splashed the outer glass of the protective case of Caravaggio's Bacchus," the museum wrote in a statement. But it added: "No damage was found to any of the works. The room will be open as normal from opening time tomorrow morning." "Before visitors' eyes, the image of the 1598 oil on canvas appeared blurred and streaked with long lines of water," wrote Corriere della Sera. Water also made its way into Palazzo Pitti, the historic Renaissance palace in Florence dating back to 1446. In particular, the floors of the Palatine Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art are reported to have been flooded, with some exhibition areas closed, according to Cisl trade union representative Silvia Barlacchi. In this case it is still not clear how the rain seeped inside, whether because windows had been left open or because the fixtures are a little too old.