As a college student from the United States studying here in Florence for the semester, the first museum I visited was the Uffizi Gallery. One of the oldest and most famous art museums in the Western world, this extraordinary gallery is home to many of the world’s most valued art work.
The Uffizi has a long history of paintings and statues collected by the Medici family, who were responsible for a majority of Florentine art during their reign. Besides the notable works of art displayed, artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo gathered at the Uffizi “for beauty, for work and for recreation.” The museum even holds the only finished panel painting by Michelangelo to survive, the Doni Tondo. Like this piece, many of the pieces displayed in the gallery cannot be seen anywhere else in the world, which in itself makes this museum worth the visit.
The entire gallery is filled with paintings and statues, and the building itself is a work of art. Any one visiting the museum must allow enough time to be able to enjoy the art with out rushing through it. If you are on your own and you’re knowledge of Renaissance art is limited, you can get overwhelmed by all of the art work. A tour guide is well worth it for those who want to gain a greater understanding of the history and importance of the art work, and to skip those dreaded entry lines.
Group tours are a great way to visit the Uffizi Gallery if you want to avoid ticket and entry lines while getting the most out of your time at the museum. Private tours are also available if you are visiting with your family, friends, or maybe your boyfriend or girlfriend, and want a more personal tour.
During high-season (April-October), group and private tours are available everyday except Monday. The tour is available in English and it begins at 3:30 pm, lasting about two hours. Please note that from November 1 through March 31, this tour is only availbale Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
To visit the Uffizi Gallery and to speak to a tour operator specialized in organizing cultural events, contact Italy Travels by calling (+0039) 005 2670402 or via email at info@italy-travels.it
For more information visit our website www.ticketsflorence.com.