One of the ‘Top 10 most famous Museums in Florence,’ the stunning Uffizi Gallery or Galleria degli Uffizi in Italian is a must see destination for anyone visiting Florence and Tuscany. Its collection of Primitive and Renaissance paintings is simply unrivalled, comprising universally acclaimed masterpieces of exceptional value, including works by Giotto, Piero della Francesca, Simone Martini, Leonardo da Vinci, Correggio, Mantegna, Botticelli, Filippo Lippi, Fra Angelico, Raphael and Michelangelo, as well as works by German, Dutch, French and Flemish masters, including Durer, Rembrandt and Rubens. And with over one and a half million annual visitors, it’s no wonder why the Uffizi Gallery is the most important and visited museum in Florence.
The Uffizi Gallery occupies the top floor of the large palace erected by architect George Vasari between 1560 and 1580 to house the administrative offices (Uffizi = offices) of the Tuscan State. First, it was a private gallery created by Grand-duke Francesco I for the pleasure of the ruling family of Florence, the Medici and their guests and then it was subsequently enriched by various members of the Medici family, who were great collectors of paintings, sculpture and works of art. The collection was rearranged and enlarged by the Lorraine Grand-dukes, who succeeded the Medici and finally by the Italian state.
Now the Gallery is made up of 45 rooms along two long corridors where the paintings are arranged in chronological order, from the 13th to the 18th centuries; giving the visitors the unique opportunity to fully appreciate all the innovations in art throughout the centuries. Everything begins when you enter the corridor. This is where you can see classical sculpture and amazing grotesques (frescoes on the ceiling of the corridor), painted by a number of artists of the same school in the 6th century.
Do Not Miss Out…
Room 2, where Tuscan School of the 13th Century and works by Giotto are introduced, with Giotto’s ‘Ognissanti Maesta’ being the highlight of the room.
Room 4, housing Florentine Painting of the 4th century, including three of Caravaggio’s most popular paintings: ‘The Sacrifice of Isaac,’ ‘Bacchus,’ and ‘Medusa,’ as well as works by Bernardo Daddi, Giovanni da Milano and Saint Cecilla Master among others.
Room 7, dedicated to Early Renaissance, with masterpieces by Fra Angelico: ‘Coronation of the Virgin,’ and ‘Madonna and Child;’ Paolo Uccello and Domenico Veneziano.
Room 10-14, displaying art works by Sandro Botticelli, one of the greatest artists of the renaissance. Make sure to check out ‘Birth of Venus’ and ‘Primavera,’ as well as Botticelli’s religious works, which, though not as famous as the other two, but still striking examples of realistic art.
Room 15 – The Leonardo Room, where you will find amazing paintings by Leonardo da Vinci: ‘Adoration of the Magi,’ (an unfinished work) and ‘Annunciation,’ along with works by Luca Signorelli, Francesco Botticini and Piero di Cosimo.
Room 25 is dedicated to the world-famous artist Michelangelo Buonarotti and other Florentine Painters, inclkuding Fra Bartolommeo, Mariotto Albertinelli and Alonso Berruguente. Michelangelo’s ‘Holy Family’ (‘Doni tondo’) is the highlight of this room, and it’s surrounded by the artworks of Ghirlandaio and others.
Rooms 26 through 28 also showcase some amazing works of high renaissance, for example works by Raphael (‘Madonna of the Goldfinch,’ ‘Self Portrait’ and ‘Pope Julius II’), Andrea del Sarto (‘Madonna of the Harpies, and ‘Saint James’), Jacopo Pontormo (‘Birth of Saint John,’ ‘Portrait of a Musician’ and ‘Supper at Emmans’), and Tiziiano Vecellio, called Titan (‘Venus and Cupid,’ ‘Venus of Urbino,’ and ‘Flora’). These works all lead up to a much more conceptual period in artwork, known as Mannerism, that would follow the Renaissance.
You can easily spend a whole day at Uffizi Gallery Florence and enjoy the museum at its best, but if you are short of time, there is a super-fast visit available that will take about 2-3 hours. But what you should do is to book ahead by all means, as during the summer months, the line can last for hours. In winter it is more like 30 minutes, however, booking ahead you will save that 30 minutes, too.
