The U.S. Consulate General in Florence will remain open, according to an official statement from the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, Tilman Fertitta.
Speaking in Rome during the Fourth of July celebrations, Ambassador Fertitta addressed recent concerns over the possible closure of the Florence consulate. “More than 40,000 American students choose Italy as a destination,” he said. “Many of them go to Florence: the U.S. Consulate General in Florence will continue to support them for many more years.”
The ambassador added that he had discussed the matter with President Donald Trump and members of the U.S. administration, emphasizing the importance of keeping the Florence consulate operational.
Florence Mayor Sara Funaro welcomed the announcement, calling it “good news” for the city. “From the very beginning, I was deeply concerned about the idea of closing the consulate,” she said in an interview with Toscana TV. “There is a long-standing historical relationship between the city and the consulate. We have a large American community in Florence, from universities to businesses and associations. Its closure would have been a great loss.”