Museums and archaeological areas with the highest income in Italy 2019-2021

Which tourist attractions in Italy have the highest income? The archaeological park of the Colosseum recorded the highest figures between 2019 and 2021. However, due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Colosseum's income amounted to roughly 17 million euros in 2021, while it totaled 57.6 million euros in 2019. Meanwhile, the Uffizi Galleries - the most visited museum in Italy in 2021 - reported the second-highest income, with around 14 million euros.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on museum attendance

During the health crisis, the total number of visitors to State museums and similar cultural institutions in Italy was significantly lower compared to 2019. While the combined attendance of such cultural institutions peaked at nearly 55 million in 2019, it stood at approximately 17 million in 2021. That year, Lazio - the Italian region with the highest museum attendance - reported a 79 percent drop in visitors compared to 2019.

Museums in Italy

As of 2021, the number of museums in Italy totaled over four thousand. Most institutions were classified as museums, galleries, or archives, whereas the country had nearly 300 archaeological parks or sites. That year, Tuscany was the Italian region with the highest number of museums overall, with Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy following behind.