The Uffizi Gallery (Galleria des Uffizii) is the most important museum to view Renaissance paintings. It is housed in a cavernous building by Giorgio Vassari and houses a collection covering some 400 years. The collection also includes innumerable artists, including many of Italy’s most well-known masters such as Giotto and Cimabue and Domenico Veneziano.
The entire collection, which also includes sculptures, as well as over 100,000 drawings, prints, and illustrations, would take several days to view. However, most people come to see the big names and the stunning interiors where their works are displayed.
What can you see at the Uffizi Gallery?
The Building
In 1599 the great architect, painter, and sometimes-art-historian Giorgio Vasari was commissioned by the Medici family (who basically made the rules in Florence for the better part of 400 years) to design an office building for the Florence judiciary. He created one of the most magnificent and beautiful buildings for government bureaucrats.
The family’s large art collection was not displayed on the top floor until Cosimo I deMedici’s death in 1574. The art gradually replaced the bureaucrats over the years until the 18th century, when the Medici dynasty was destroyed. Only Anna Maria Luisa’s visionary political maneuvering ensured that the entire collection remained in the museum.
The famous Patto di famiglia of her Patto di famiglia stated that when she died, her inherited fortune – i.e. The entire accumulated estate of Medici families would not be passed to her children. Instead, it would be left to the Tuscan state with the condition that it never leaves Florence. The Uffizi was thus officially opened to the public in 1765.
Duccio, Giotto and Cimabue
Have you ever wondered what painting looked like before the Renaissance began? In word: flat. Flat expressions, flat poses, flat backgrounds. Artists hadn’t yet figured out how perspective works. This flatness can be seen in the works of Duccio and Cimabue. However, it is on the horizon. Compare them with Giotto’s “Majesty”, and you will instantly feel a frisson for innovation.
Artists began to add depth and life into their paintings at the beginning of the 14th century, making figures and themes seem more human than strictly divine. Giotto’s “Majesty,” which brings out the Madonna’s body in ways unimaginable 100 years ago, is a remarkable example of Giotto’s genius.
Ucello, Veneziano and Lippi
The Renaissance saw humans brought to the forefront and paintings became more realist as ancient thinkers’ works were rediscovered. These works were used to fuel new artistic directions.
The Battle of San Romano is Paolo Ucello’s first masterclass in mathematical perspective, which was just discovered. Domenico Veneziano, however, abandoned the flat, divine light that was a mainstay of Medival paintings and instead used nuanced natural lighting which illuminates the Santa Lucia de’ Magnoli Altarpiece’s subjects in new and more beautiful ways. Filippo Lippi’s touchingly intimate depictions of the Virgin Mary show how human love and other emotions leap off the canvases.
Michelangelo
You are likely to visit the Accademia in Florence as well. Here you can see Michelangelo’s David. But don’t mistakenly think that after seeing that you have “done Michelangelo.” Although he only has one painting at the Uffizi, it is extraordinary.
Tempera painting of the holy couple, The Doni Tondo, is not only one the greatest tempera paintings of the 16th century but also helped to establish the foundations of the whole mannerist painting movement that featured vibrant colors and poses that highlighted the human body. It’s difficult to believe it was created over 500 years ago. The colors are vivid, and the expressions seem so natural.
Raphael
The Medici’s Raphael collection is the most extensive in the world, spread over the Uffizi galleries as well as the Piti Palace. Madonna of the Goldfinch is Raphael’s greatest achievement during his time in Florence. It was restored extensively in 2008, and it is back better than ever.
Leonardo Da Vinci
Florentine through and through, the great inventor, polymath and artist was. He had a huge influence on Raphael, the young painter who came to Florence to study and to paint. Leonardo’s two works in the Uffizi are both paintings while he was still young.
The first painting is actually Verrocchio’s. Leonardo added an angel to it. It is a magnificent angel. The painting’s other angels are pale in comparison. The Annunciation is the second painting. It features Leonardo’s now-famous sfumato technique, which avoids straight lines and instead uses smoky, blurred borders that give life to images once thought impossible.
Botticelli
Sandro Botticellis is an oddity in the Uffizi pantheon. His work is generally thought to have regressed due to his association with Girolamo Savonarola (a fanatical friar who hosted an art-burning bonfire in Florence in 1497).
The Birth of Venus by Botticelli.
Two of the most stunning and mysterious Renaissance paintings were created by Boticelli – Primavera and The Birth of Venus. Boticelli may have modeled Venus after a married noblewoman, with whom he had an unrequited love interest. We can’t think of a better tribute if that is the case.
Although there are many theories, Primavera has so far refused to be able to identify even the most basic meanings or symbolisms. We can see the defining confluence between Christianity and ancient pagan philosophy (ie. neoplatonism), which is what shaped many of the artistic currents in the Renaissance.
Caravaggio
Caravaggio is the ultimate bad boy of art in the late Renaissance period. Caravaggio was as troubled in his personal life than he was with a brush. He brought a level to painting that was unheard of.
He often used prostitutes and poor people as models to re-create the Bible in the image of the downtrodden, while enjoying the contrasts of light and dark that he seemed able to effortlessly create with chiaroscuro. The majority of Caravaggio’s Uffizi paintings are older works that he did not fully develop as a painter. However, they still have the same impact on the viewer today.
Tips to Visit the Uffizi Gallery
Opening Times
The Uffizi Gallery will be open from Tuesday to Sunday, 8:15 – 6:50 p.m. The museum closes at 6:30pm.
For Saturdays and Holidays, it is necessary to reserve at least one day in advance
The museum is closed Monday through Friday, except December 1 and 25.
For more information, visit the Uffizi site.
Uffizi Gallery Tickets
Uffizi tickets come in three versions: Full, Reduced and Free.
Tickets at full price are EUR20 for non-EU citizens 18 years and older and EUR20 for EU citizens 25 years and older. Senior citizens are not eligible for a discount.
For EU citizens aged 18-25 with valid ID, reduced tickets of EUR2 are available
Tickets can be purchased on the website. You can book your visit or purchase tickets for a specific time by paying EUR4 at the entrance reservation desk.
Groups of school-aged children must book their visit in advance by contacting the following address [email protected]
Anyone under 18 years of age, regardless of nationality, is allowed to enter the museum free of charge if they have proper identification.
Rules
To comply with all COVID-19 national and regional measures ( more details here).
- While in museums, it is mandatory to use a mask to cover your nose and mouth.
- It is important to maintain a minimum of 1.80m between you and your partner.
- Mass gatherings are prohibited. Groups cannot exceed 10 persons.
You are not allowed to bring certain items into the Uffizi.
Umbrellas
Large bags
Backpacks
Selfie Sticks
Drinks
All of these items can be left in the cloakroom which is available for free. The Cloakroom is located immediately under the Eastern colonnade. Please Note: The Cloakroom is temporarily not available near the Ticket Office on the Western colonnade (the side closest to Ponte Vecchio).
Although the Uffizi Gallery is fully wheelchair-friendly, there are two important things you should remember. It has a 3 cm step on the wheelchair-accessible ramp at the vie della Ninna. 2. You can exchange your wheelchair for one of the appropriate sizes at the entrance if it does not fit in the elevator.
Unlike the Accademia galleries, you are allowed to take photographs at the Uffizi galleries. However, flash photography is not allowed. You can’t take photos or videos with selfie sticks, lightstands or tripods.
You can find all details on the rules at their website.
The Best Hour to Visit the Uffizi Gallerie
The Uffizi, along with the Florence Cathedral or the Accademia is one of Florence’s most visited attractions. You can still reserve tickets ahead of time, but you may have to wait for your turn. The building is limited to 900 visitors at any given time.
The door policy is strict one out, one in. A guided tour is the best way to get around the queues.
Florence’s peak season runs from April through October. It is a popular destination for art lovers and serious collectors. However, it is not always possible to get in early enough to beat the crowds. According to the museum, it is best to visit around lunchtime as both the entrance lines and crowds can be reduced due to people stopping for food.
