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Uffizi Gallery - Masterpieces of the Renaissance

  • Writer: IB
    IB
  • Oct 23, 2020
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jun 29

Probably the most enchanting museum in Florence, but also one of the most popular, should you visit? My answer in three words : yes, yes and yes!



The Uffizi gallery, located in the historic centre of Florence, is one of the most important Italian museums. Why is that? Because it holds a priceless collection, one of largest when it comes to Italian Renaissance paintings and drawings. The Uffizi is Florence’s most visited museum but I’m telling you, visiting it is definitely WORTH it, so if you can, book tickets in advance (especially if you're planning a trip during summer). If you're an art lover, going to the Uffizi is a dream come true, believe me, as an art history graduate, whenever I had some time to spare in Florence, I would spent it here!


A bit of Uffizi's history

The Uffizi complex's construction begun in ca. 1560 by Giorgio Vasari, following the orders of Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici , who decided to transfer his offices from Palazzo Vecchio (the old palace) to a new place, where he would be more comfortably accommodated. The construction was completed in 1581 thanks to the architect's work and the presence of important figures such as Bernardo Buontalenti. The Uffizi brought together in a sole building the administrative offices and the Archivio di Stato, the state archive. At first, only an administrative building but it soon became part of something much more grandiose! With the will of Grand Duke Francesco I, it was clear that the Uffizi would become a place where the most prestigious artworks of the Medici collection sculptures and paintings, be on display.



Click on the following diaporama to see more of its beauty.

Main artworks

It would take hours to make a proper list of must-see paintings in the Uffizi, all of them have a special history and deserves to be seen. Try to take a whole afternoon or even better, a whole day for the museum in order to enjoy it fully but if you're really short on time, try to focus on the following paintings which are a must-see (and my personal favorites!)

- Boticelli’s Primavera and the whole room with his works

- Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation and Adoration of the Magi

- Michelangelo’s Tondo Doni

- Titian, The Venus of Urbino

- Piero della Francesca, Diptych of Duke Federico da Montefeltro and Duchess Battista Sforza of Urbino.


- Gentile da Fabriano, Adoration at the Temple

- Simone Martini, Annunciation

- Paolo Uccello: The Battle of San Romano

- Fra Filippo Lippi: Madonna and Child, and Coronation of the Virgin

- Caravaggio, Medusa.



The Uffizi is often under maintenance as it is undergoing some major modernization project, one was conducted in 2016 and increased the number of rooms hosting permanent collections available to public : 101 rooms which is huge.


If you want to discover more about this fantastic museum, I deeply encourage you to watch this documentary. Wishing you a lovely day.




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About Me

I'm a 20 years old frenchie who first fell in love with Florence and Italy in general through my passion for Arts.

I lived and studied Art History & archaeology at the University of Florence and I am now  sharing my experiences hoping to make you fall in love with this majestic city too!

(ps : This blog is a project for my studies in Tourism.)

 

© 2020 by IB .

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