Everything you need to know, before coming to Florence
Florence is a city full of museums, we could say that it is itself an open-air museum. Millions of people visit it every year to discover the artistic beauties of the Renaissance, as well as those of the Roman and medieval periods.
There are many museums to visit, but the most visited are mainly two: Uffizi and Accademia.
If you come to Florence for a few days and have little time available, and therefore you can't see all the museum heritage that the city has to offer, these two museums are the ones not to be missed.
Uffizi Gallery
Why is the Uffizi Gallery so famous?
You may wonder why the Uffizi is so famous and besieged by so many tourists. In fact it is one of the most visited museums in the world for the quantity and richness of the works of art it houses. The museum houses masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Giotto, Michelangelo and all the greatest artists of all time.
Where is the Uffizi?
The Uffizi is in the historic centre, just a short distance from Ponte Vecchio, next to Palazzo Vecchio. If you arrive in Piazza Signoria, facing Palazzo Vecchio, which is also the Town Hall of Florence, you will find it on the right. The gallery has a "U" shape and under the arcades you will see the queue of tourists waiting to enter. We strongly advise you to book your ticket in advance, to avoid spending half your time in a queue!
How much does the admission ticket to the Uffizi cost? The entrance ticket costs € 12 or € 25 depending on the period, while it is free for under 18s and there are reduced rates for residents of certain European countries under 25, and for other categories (check the official website to see if you qualify). If you buy your ticket from the official website, there is an extra €4 per person to pay for the online booking service. There are many unofficial but often more usable online ticketing sites that charge higher rates because they may include a guided tour or other services, such as audio guides.
Can I enter the Uffizi without paying?
In 2023 the 'Sunday at the Museum' is finally back: every first Sunday of the month you can visit the Uffizi and other state museums, monuments and parks free of charge. Take advantage of it!
What to see in the Uffizi?
Here is the list of the TOP 10 things not to be missed (obviously it's subjective, you are free to choose others!).
• Birth of Venusand Primavera by Sandro Botticelli
• Madonna and Child by Giotto
• Madonna and Child by Raphael
• Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci
• Tondo Doni by Michelangelo
• Bacchus by Caravaggio
• Musical angel by Rosso Fiorentino
• The Dukes of Urbino Federico da Montefeltro and Battista Sforza by Piero della Francesca
• Battle of San Romano by Paolo Uccello
• Flora by Titian
Things to know: The Uffizi is closed on Mondays.
Accademia Gallery
The Accademia is the museum where the original of Michelangelo's David is kept. The enormous white marble statue, 5 metres high, was once in the open air in Piazza Signoria, it was moved here in the late 19th century (more or less following the years when Florence was the capital of Italy) to protect it from bad weather and a copy was left in the original spot.
Its transportation was something epic for the time and all Florentines were impressed. In fact, it took 5 days. The room in which you can admire the David today was custom built, and a passage was opened in the walls to allow the giant statue to pass through.
Interesting fact: in the city there is also a third copy of the David, in bronze, in Piazzale Michelangelo!
In addition to the David, the Accademia also houses other statues by Michelangelo, including the Prisoners, which are unfinished statues of prisoners chained in various poses.
In the Accademia, you will find other important works of art, unfortunately "eclipsed" by the fame of the David. Many tourists come in just to admire the David, take the selfie to post on Instagram and go out. In doing so, they do not spend more than 1 hour or 1 hour and a half in the museum. If you have the time, stay a little longer, otherwise continue your visit to discover Florence.
Where is the Accademia located?
The Accademia is located in Via Ricasoli, a long, narrow street in the city centre, starting from Piazza Duoma and ending in Piazza San Marco, which is not very famous if we exclude this very busy museum. The museum is located almost at the end of the street, after the intersection with Via degli Alfani.
But it won't be difficult to find it, just follow the queue of people!!!
How much does admission to the Accademia cost? The full ticket costs € 12, while for 18-25 year olds it costs € 2 and is free in other cases, such as for those under 18. We strongly recommend purchasing it online first to avoid queues.
Are hu ready to discover the wonders of Florence?
