Bye Bye Gru!
With the crane removed, Florence restores its aesthetic charme after nearly two decades
It took just six days, from the 16th to today, to carry out the removal operation of the metal monster, a project envisioned by Uffizi director Simone Verde and the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli
After nearly two decades, the Florence skyline has been restored to its original state. No more panoramic photos of the historic heart of Florence ruined by the cumbersome presence of the maxi crane in the Uffizi square, installed in 2006 as part of the museum's extension works. Over six days, starting on the morning of 16 June, the dismantling of the enormous metal colossus was completed. Standing sixty metres tall and weighing 518 quintals (344 of metal, 144 of concrete counterweights elevated to a height of 50 metres), it was a true giant, visible not only from above the Loggia dei Lanzi and Piazza Signoria but from many kilometres away from the city as well.
The initiative, strongly desired by the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli and Uffizi director Simone Verde, started at 7 a.m. on 16 June and wraps up today, bringing the city back to its natural panorama on the 21st.
In the next few days, a 'light' freight lift will be installed inside the construction site located in the square opposite the (former) crane, in
order to quickly push ahead the work to complete the Nuovi Uffizi project, whilst preserving the aesthetics of the Florentine urban fabric. The implementation of this replacement system was made possible thanks to funding of approximately 180 thousand euros, provided by a group of entrepreneurs including Stefano Ricci, Nexi, Confindustria Toscana Centro e Costa, Enic, Starhotels, House of Nine, Toscana Aeroporti, P.T. Colour srl, along with contributions from Fondazione CR Firenze and the Amici degli Uffizi.
To disassemble the crane, the museum spent a year working quietly alongside Valerio Tesi, responsible for the Nuovi Uffizi, and Chiara Tettamanti, the works director, completely reorganising the construction site. This included the early construction of floors in the work area to efficiently store required materials, thus reducing the necessity for the giant machinery. Nineteen years ago, the gigantic crane was placed in the Uffizi square to carry out the main loading, unloading and transport operations of the materials for the construction site to double the Gallery's exhibition spaces, which is still unfinished. Over nearly two decades since its installation, numerous controversies have emerged regarding the severe aesthetic damage the mechanical giant has caused to the beauty of the Florentine skyline, to the point that social media accounts featuring ironic photos and posts about the crane's alleged immovability have ‘proliferated’. Following its removal, Florence's skyline is restored to its original beauty.
