German museum director denigrates Florence as a “prostitute” She actually wanted to point out the problems of mass tourism in Florence. Now it is facing sharp criticism from the highest political circles. Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi - once mayor of Florence - said the museum director must apologize or "resign" In a statement from the Galleria dell'Accademia, the director, who was appointed to head the museum in 2015, later apologized for her choice of words.