The Uffizi Gallery in Florence

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence

In the beautiful city of Florence, many attractions delight the eyes of tourists and cherish their sense of beauty.

One of these buildings – the Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi) – is located in the center of Florence between Signoria Square (Piazza della Signoria) and the Ponte Vecchio bridge, attracting numerous tourists who came to this amazing city specifically to see the masterpieces of the world’s fine arts, exhibited here.

We recommend you take a private tour to the gallery with a licensed art guide. If art is not your profession, it will be more beneficial to visit the gallery with someone who will explain to you all the peculiarities of the masterpieces. The guide will also help you with booking tickets.

What will you see there?

The Uffizi Gallery, which covers a total area of 13,000 square meters, stores the most important and largest collection. You will find there the works of Italian and foreign artists who worked from the 13th to the 18th centuries.

In the museum, you can enjoy the creations of such world-famous masters as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Rafael, Rubens, Rembrandt, and many others. By the way, the Uffizi Gallery is one of the oldest museums in the world, which was opened to visitors almost immediately after it was built in the 16th century.

The Uffizi Gallery of 16th century

History of the Gallery

The most famous gallery in Italy is located in a massive building, the project of which belongs to the talented architect Giorgio Vasari. The construction of the Uffizi Gallery began in 1560 on the personal order of Cosimo the Elder Medici. But, unfortunately, he could never see it in finished form: the construction of the building was completed twenty years later, after Cosimo’s death.

It is worth noting that to carry out the architectural design specialists had to demolish old quarters and dismantle nearby medieval buildings.

However, when the Uffizi Gallery was fully completed, it became clear that it was worth it. One of the most imposing museums in the country is located in Piazza della Signoria in the shape of the Latin letter “U,” surrounded by hanging gardens and an art gallery. The author of the project, Vasari, was a true connoisseur of art, so he took care of the unique design of the long corridors where the canvases were supposed to be located.

Dozens of years after the start of the majestic construction, the Medici family was finally able to bring their pride here – a unique collection of paintings and sculptures collected from all over the world. To Florence, the representatives of the great dynasty sent all their masterpieces of art. The Medici paid particular attention to the artist Sandro Botticelli, who, according to historians, was very friendly with a famous family.

"The Birth of Venus" (Nascita di Venere) in the Uffizi gallery in Florence

The Uffizi Gallery still keeps his rare creations. For example, the museum houses one of his most famous paintings – “The Birth of Venus” (Nascita di Venere). One can speak for a long time about the variety of beautiful paintings created by the most famous artists in the history of humankind and exhibited in the Uffizi.

However, it is worth noting that the gem of the entire collection is the “Venus Medici”.

Venus Medici

It will take more than one day to examine the numerous paintings. Fortunately, all the works here are chronologically arranged in more than 50 halls. Thanks to this wise organization, you will be able to trace how art developed from the 13th to the 18th centuries and how the styles of painting and sculpture changed from the Byzantine period to the Baroque.

Uffizi gallery in Florence

As soon as you enter the museum, you find yourself at a real crossroads: three vestibules lead from the entrance to the museum. The first contains busts made of marble and porphyry. The second is decorated with Giovanni da San Giovanni. The third contains Roman statues and sarcophagi. The Uffizi Gallery captivates not only with the art objects exhibited here.

Useful information

Millions of tourists visit the Uffizi Gallery each year, it is highly recommended to buy tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line for hours.

Online Skip the Line Tickets

  • They have proven reliable agencies for buying tickets at the last minute: www.tiqets.com and www.getyourguide.ru. – they usually take a small commission, but at the same time, even in high season, there are available tickets.
  • Official website of e-ticket office: webshop.b-ticket.com
  • A group tour of 1.5 hours costs 59 EUR per person, tickets included, languages: English, Italian, Spanish, German or French.

To avoid hours of waiting in line at the museum itself, you can book tickets in Italian at +39 055 294883 (reservation fee 4 EUR). It’s better to visit this Florentine attraction after 2 p.m. when all school excursions end.

Address and opening hours

The Uffizi Gallery is located at Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, Firenze, Italy, and you can get into it any day except Mondays and 1 May from 8.15 a.m. to 6.50 p.m.

How to get there

You can get to the Uffizi Gallery by public transport (the C1 stop ‘Galleria Degli Uffizi’ – Farmacia Logge is located next to it) or walk if you are already in the city center. By the way, if you still feel energized after visiting the beautiful gallery, take a look at the nearby attractions of Florence: Palazzo Vecchio and Bargello Palace.

Author:
Guide, traveler, marathon runner, journalist, creator of the site ITALY FOR ME. I live in Rome and am in love with Rome. On the subject of the article, please ask questions in the comments. I try to answer everyone at least once a day.

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