History: 50th Anniversary Of Florence Flood
Asking a veteran conservator or museum professional where they were when the Arno River burst its banks 50 years ago this month, submerging the historic centre of Florence under 18 billion gallons of filthy water, is akin to asking someone what they were doing when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. The flood was a pivotal moment in the history of conservation. An oral history project captures the flood’s details. Thirty people were killed and many valuable artworks were destroyed.