Uffizi chief presses for harsh penalties for defacing of Vasari Corridor columns; police ID suspects

MILAN — The director of Florence’s Uffizi Galleries called on Wednesday for stiff penalties against vandals who spray-painted graffiti on exterior columns of the Vasari Corridor connecting the famed museum to the Boboli Gardens. “Now, let justice run its course.” Earlier in the day, Sangiuliano, said that vandals “need to understand that even a small scratch will be prosecuted from now on.” Under Italian law, someone convicted of “aggravated damage,” which could apply to a vandalism case, risks a prison term as high as three years. Italian police examined video to identify those responsible for the Vasari Corridor graffiti, which appeared overnight on the Arno River-facing side of the nearly kilometer-long corridor. Florence Mayor Dario Nardella promised a full investigation to identify those responsible for the “shameful act of vandalism” at the Vasari Corridor.