Galleria degli Uffizi
فلورنسا
The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most important museums in the world and holds the most extraordinary collection of Italian Renaissance art. In its rooms you meet absolute masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio. A journey into beauty, in the heart of Florence.
The story of the Uffizi
The Uffizi palace was commissioned in 1560 by Cosimo I de' Medici from the architect Giorgio Vasari, to house the administrative and judicial offices of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, hence the name "Uffizi", the offices. The Medici themselves began displaying works of art here. In 1737 the last heir of the dynasty, Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, bound the entire artistic heritage to Florence forever with the famous Family Pact, on condition that it never leave the city.
The masterpieces of the Renaissance
The collection traces the whole history of Italian art, with special attention to the Florentine Renaissance. Among the most famous works are Sandro Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo da Vinci's Annunciation, Michelangelo's Doni Tondo, and works by Raphael, Piero della Francesca and Paolo Uccello. Masterpieces by Titian, such as the Venus of Urbino, and by Caravaggio complete this extraordinary collection.
The architecture of the palace
Vasari's building is U-shaped and opens towards the Arno, with a long arcaded courtyard lined with statues of illustrious Tuscans. From the Uffizi starts the Vasari Corridor, a raised passageway that links the Uffizi to Palazzo Pitti across the Ponte Vecchio, built for the Medici so they could move about safely.
Visiting the Uffizi Gallery
The museum stands next to Piazza della Signoria, along the Arno. Given the huge crowds, booking ahead is strongly recommended. The visit takes several hours to do justice to its many rooms. From the museum terrace there is a lovely view of Palazzo Vecchio. An essential stop on the Florentine treasure map.
