New directors, all Italian, set to take office in coming weeks.Italy's culture ministry has announced the new "super-directors" of five major Italian museums and archaeological sites following an application process that began in March.The appointments came despite the fact that culture minister Alessandro Giuli, in an interview given to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera (and then unpublished, but shared by Giuli on social media), said he was not satisfied with the shortlisted candidates proposed by the ministry's expert panel, and was ready to reopen the call for nominations. Simone Quilici will head the Colosseum Archaeological Park which, in addition to the ancient amphitheatre, comprises the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Domus Aurea. Quilici, an architect, has been director of the Appian Way Archaeological Park since 2019, and previously worked on the restoration of cultural and historical-religious itineraries for the Lazio region including the Appian Way and the Via Francigena. The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN) in Naples will be led by Francesco Sirano, former director of the Herculaneum Archaeological Park. Sirano has served previously as director of archaeology at the Superintendency of Archaeology of Campania, and as archaeologist at the General Directorate of the Great Pompeii Project. Federica Rinaldi, former archaeological officer responsible for the Colosseum and expert in Roman mosaics, will direct the Museo Nazionale Romano network which comprises Palazzo Massimo alla Terme, the Baths of Diocletian, Palazzo Altemps and Crypta Balbi. The Galleria dell’Accademia and Musei del Bargello in Florence will be headed by Andreina Contessa. An art historian and scholar with expertise in museology, digital cataloging and multimedia, Contessa has headed the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional museums directorate since 2020, after leading the Miramare Castle Historical Museum and Park. Paola D'Agostino, former director of the Bargello Museum, will take over the Royal Museums of Turin. D'Agostina, an art historian, has previously had prestigious professional and educational experiences in the US and the UK.

Italy's culture ministry has announced the new "super-directors" of five major Italian museums and archaeological sites following that began in March. The  came despite the fact that culture minister Alessandro Giuli, in an interview given to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera (and then unpublished, but shared by Giuli on social media), said he was not satisfied with the shortlisted candidates proposed by the ministry's expert panel, and was ready to reopen the call for nominations. Simone Quilici will head the Colosseum Archaeological Park which, in addition to the ancient amphitheatre, comprises the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Domus Aurea. Quilici, an architect, has been director of the Appian Way Archaeological Park since 2019, and previously worked on the restoration of cultural and historical-religious itineraries for the Lazio region including the Appian Way and the Via Francigena. The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN) in Naples will be led by Francesco Sirano, former director of the Herculaneum Archaeological Park. Sirano has served previously as director of archaeology at the Superintendency of Archaeology of Campania, and as archaeologist at the General Directorate of the Great Pompeii Project. Federica Rinaldi, former archaeological officer responsible for the Colosseum and expert in Roman mosaics, will direct the Museo Nazionale Romano network which comprises Palazzo Massimo alla Terme, the Baths of Diocletian, Palazzo Altemps and Crypta Balbi. The Galleria dell’Accademia and Musei del Bargello in Florence will be headed by Andreina Contessa. An art historian and scholar with expertise in museology, digital cataloging and multimedia, Contessa has headed the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional museums directorate since 2020, after leading the Miramare Castle Historical Museum and Park. Paola D'Agostino, former director of the Bargello Museum, will take over the Royal Museums of Turin. D'Agostina, an art historian, has previously had prestigious professional and educational experiences in the US and the UK.