Fra Angelico becomes the most visited exhibition ever at Palazzo Strozzi

The exhibition dedicated to Fra Angelico, which closed on Sunday 25 January 2026, has become the most visited show in the twenty-year history of Palazzo Strozzi.

During its 122 days of opening, more than 250,000 people visited the Palazzo Strozzi venue, while the parallel display at the Museo di San Marco attracted over 100,000 visitors, four times more than in the same period the previous year.

The exhibition, curated by Carl Brandon Strehlke with Stefano Casciu and Angelo Tartuferi, was organised jointly by Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Italy’s Ministry of Culture through the Regional Directorate of National Museums of Tuscany, and the Museo di San Marco. Spread across the two venues, it presented more than 140 works from 70 international collections, offering an in-depth reassessment of one of the founding figures of the Renaissance.

Visitors from outside Florence and strong economic impact

According to data released by the organisers, 83 per cent of visitors were not residents of the Florence metropolitan area. Around 80 per cent of them came to the city specifically to see the exhibition, either on day trips or with longer stays. This is the highest figure ever recorded by the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi and points to a significant impact on local tourism and the wider economy.

More than 2,500 organised groups visited the exhibition, including over 300 school classes and 70 university groups, while educational and accessibility programmes involved more than 12,000 participants overall.

International attention and research legacy

The exhibition also received wide coverage in international media, highlighting both its scholarly approach and its curatorial ambition. Twenty-eight works were restored for the occasion, and seven major altarpieces were partially reunited after having been dispersed for more than two centuries, leaving a lasting legacy for future research and conservation.

Online visibility was also strong, with millions reached through social media and a sharp rise in traffic to the Palazzo Strozzi website during the exhibition period.

Looking ahead: Rothko arrives in Florence

With the Fra Angelico exhibition now closed, Palazzo Strozzi is preparing for its next major project. From 14 March to 23 August 2026, the venue will host one of the most important exhibitions ever dedicated to Mark Rothko, conceived specifically for Florence.

Curated by Christopher Rothko and Elena Geuna, the exhibition will trace the artist’s entire career through more than 70 works from leading international museums and private collections. Alongside the main exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi, satellite sections will extend to the Museo di San Marco and the vestibule of the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, further linking contemporary art with Florence’s historic spaces.

❤️ Support Florence Daily News

If you liked this article, please consider supporting Florence Daily News.

We are an independent news site, free from paywalls and intrusive ads, committed to providing clear and reliable reporting on Florence and Tuscany for everyone.

Your support — whether a one-time gift or a regular contribution — helps us stay independent and keep telling the stories that matter.

Donate securely via Stripe below.