Crane has loomed over the Uffizi for last two decades.Florence is preparing to wave goodbye to a massive yellow crane that has been a blot on the city's skyline for almost 20 years, casting a shadow over the Uffizi Galleries.Work began on Monday to dismantle the 60-metre high structure began whose definitive removal this weekend will be marked with a farewell event on the terrace of the Uffizi in the presence of the Italy's culture minister Alessandro Giuli. The crane, nicknamed "the metal monster" or "the giraffe" by local residents, has loomed over the centre of Florence since 2006 when it was installed to facilitate works for the ongoing "Grandi Uffizi" expansion project. The giant crane, outsized for the current needs of the project, is to be replaced with a less intrusive hoist, Uffizi director Simone Verde told the Florence-based newspaper La Nazione last month. The dismantling of the crane has been sponsored with about €180,000 donated from entrepreneurs in the Tuscan capital, following an appeal by Verde. "Florence has been waiting for this moment for a long time" - Verde said - "With the metal monster out of the way, the face of the city returns intact and unblemished in all its dazzling beauty". Photo Mario Sestino - Gallerie degli Uffizi Facebook

Florence is preparing to wave goodbye to a massive yellow crane that has been a blot on the city's skyline for almost 20 years, casting a shadow over the Uffizi Galleries. Work began on Monday to dismantle the 60-metre high structure began whose definitive removal this weekend will be marked with a farewell event on the terrace of the Uffizi in the presence of the Italy's culture minister Alessandro Giuli. The crane, nicknamed "the metal monster" or "the giraffe" by local residents, has loomed over the centre of Florence since 2006 when it was installed to facilitate works for the ongoing "Grandi Uffizi" expansion project. The giant crane, outsized for the current needs of the project, is to be replaced with a less intrusive hoist, Uffizi director Simone Verde told the Florence-based newspaper La Nazione last month. The dismantling of the crane has been sponsored with about €180,000 donated from entrepreneurs in the Tuscan capital, following an appeal by Verde. "Florence has been waiting for this moment for a long time" - Verde said - "With the metal monster out of the way, the face of the city returns intact and unblemished in all its dazzling beauty". Photo Mario Sestino - Gallerie degli Uffizi Facebook