The Boboli Gardens at the Uffizi Gallery. Image Wikimedia Commons.

After Greece's refusal to allow Gucci to use the Parthenon for a June 2017 runway how -- in exchange for a large donation for restoration of the site, the Italian luxury brand has turned to the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, Italy to stage the event at its Galleria Palantina on May 29.

The $2.13 million allocated for the event space will be used now to restore the Boboli Gardens at the Uffizi Gallery. In announcing the agreement, Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri said sarcastically: "I guess that Greece's fiscal situation is in better shape than Italy's." Both economies are under siege, but Italy has very successfully turned to Italy's finest luxury brands to restore its most historic sites, with the full understanding that tourism is imperative to Italy's financial future.

Currently, less than 20 of the 33 acres comprising the gardens are accessible to the public. The Gucci funds will open the entire green space.

Of the agreement, Italy’s culture minister, Dario Franceschini, commented:

“Fashion is also part of our cultural heritage and our history. In our country, taste, elegance, and education in what is beautiful are part of our day-to-day lives.”

“The connection between fashion and art has always been a close one, and it has been often conducive to striking and unique occasions, like this one, where a prestigious Italian fashion brand has decided to invest in an important cultural landmark, while appreciating its mission,” he added.

Featured