Most likely, if you are booking a villa in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, you’re going to want to visit some of her famous museums. Among the list of extraordinary art institutions of the city that are stuffed with masterpieces by many of the most famous names in the history of art, the Uffizi Gallery stands out as probably the must-see example. Of course, you may want to visit more and other galleries and museums throughout your vacation in Florence but this is certainly the best-known option and for good reason. Sprawling, beautiful in its own right, boasting amazing views over the city from its terrace, and full of outstanding works, it is an important tourist attraction for any art-lover coming to the city. Set aside a few hours, make sure you’ve had a snack and something to drink beforehand, and then come dive in so you can put a little dent in the astounding collections of the museum.
The Uffizi Gallery, or Galleria degli Uffizi, is located in the Piazza della Signoria and is one of the oldest and most renowned art museums in Europe and the world. Begun in 1560 under Vasari for Cosimo I de' Medici, the gallery’s name actually refers to its original purpose, as offices for the Medici ruler. However, as they were the offices of a Renaissance noble family who were displaying their taste and wealth, more and more space began to be occupied by artworks until, eventually, being a gallery became the primary purpose of the space. By the sixteenth century, visitors could be allowed into the gallery upon request and it was officially opened to the public in 1765.
Today, 45 rooms of the museum are open to visitors, with increasing space and works continuing to be added since 2006. While the museum is primarily known for its extensive collection of Renaissance art by great masters such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Cimabue, Botticelli, Giotto, Van der Weyden, Durer, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Artemisia Gentileschi, and Rembrandt, it also displays the work of scientists like Galilei and writers like Dante Alighieri. Though not the largest nor most unwieldy museum in Europe, the Uffizi still boasts an astounding number of extraordinary holdings and it would be hard to give all of the museum its due consideration and attention in one visit. We recommend, therefore, looking into the collections in advance, and making a plan of action ahead of your trip so you can easily find what you are interested in seeing and make the most of your visit.
We also recommend booking in advance of your visit. Reservations are not required but if you book your ticket ahead of time, you will be able to skip the queues, which can be particularly long during the peak season, especially between April and September, at weekends, and on holidays such as Christmas. Entry is available every fifteen minutes for ticket holders, so booking in advance allows you to choose your preferred date and time of visit.
An utterly magical space full of incredible masterpieces, be sure to plan your trip to the incomparable Uffizi while enjoying a stay in one of our holiday rentals in Florence and exploring this artistic capital of Tuscany!
Uffizi Galleries
Piazzale degli Uffizi 6 50122 Florence, Italy
+39 055 294883
infouffizi@cultura.gov.it
Opening hours:
From Tuesday to Sunday, 8.15am to 6.30pm
Closed on Mondays (excluding the 10th and 24th of April, the 1st of May, and the 14th of August) and the 25th of December
Tickets:
Regular - €26
Reduced (for European citizens from 18 to 25) - €3 (Usually €2 but an extra Euro has been added from the 15th of June to the 15th of September 2023 in order to support the population struck by the flood in Emilia Romagna)
Free admission for those under 18, students, and guests with disabilities and on the 4th of November (National Unity and Armed Forces Day) as well as the first Sunday of each month as part of the #DomenicalMuseo initiative (tickets cannot be booked in advance on these free entry days).