Uffizi Gallery Florence – Tips for Tickets and Tour
The museums of Florence – the Archaeological Museum, Uffizi, Bargello, Pitti, Galleria dell’Accademia are included in the criterion for UNESCO World Heritage status of Florence. Among these Uffizi is the most popular one all over the world for its collection of numerous unique masterpieces, most of them from renaissance era.
History of Uffizi, the Building
“Uffizi” the name comes from the word “office.” That was the initial purpose of this building. It was made to accommodate the offices of the Florentine magistrates. Construction of the Uffizi Gallery took place between the years 1560 and 1581. It was made for Cosimo I de’ Medici, the then Duke of Florence. In the following years several extensions have been added to the structure. Interiors of Uffizi is constantly going through modernization. And for this reason you will find some section or the other closed to public.
Uffizi, the Museum
Uffizi was not open to public as museum from day one even though it did house the Duke’s collection of Roman sculptures. The top floor was made into a gallery only for the family and their guests. This was opened to visitors in 1765. And exactly a century later it was declared a museum and opened to public in 1865. Today the museum has 90 rooms preserving and exhibiting some of the world’s most important and famous paintings.
Uffizi Gallery Tickets and Tour
90 rooms! You can imagine the volume of precious art and exhibits there! Unless you plan well it is not possible to justice to your visit to Uffizi Gallery Florence. Read on for Uffizi Gallery Florence – tips for tickets and tour.
Tickets to Uffizi Gallery
It is best to book tickets to Uffizi in advance; else chances are that you will find the lines painfully long. Luckily I did some good planning and had my tickets which ensured a smooth entry.
First step to planning your visit is fixing the day and date. Remember the gallery is closed on all Mondays, 1st Jan, 1st May and 25th Dec.
Next: on the days it is open the timings are 8.15am to 6.50pm.
Closure starts from 6.35pm on.
Ticket office closes at 6.05pm.
Tickets cost 20euros over the counter.
You can skip the queue and plan the time to visit by purchasing online tickets for a fee of 4euros.
Waiting time can go up to 5 hours.
No Photography in Uffizi Gallery
It was with great excitement and enthusiasm that I stepped into Uffizi only to find a big ‘no photography’ board right in front. One has to master the art of absorbing and appreciating the essence of displayed art on the go. So leave the cameras back in your hotel rooms.
I find it disappointing because even though I enjoyed my moments in Uffizi Gallery I am not able to recollect anything from the museum. And this is just couple of months after the visit. Years later I will have just this blogpost to remind me I was there in this great museum. Is it me alone who has this low retention capacity of memory?
Tour of Uffizi Gallery
I passed countless paintings and statues. Rooms with more famous paintings were crowded, with tourists hovering around them for longer time absorbing in leisure. Obviously that had to be, tourists come from miles away and all they can carry away are visual memories. Here is the greatest collection of Renaissance art in the world and there is so much to see.
The rooms are themed, individual artists, schools of art or with those belonging to different periods. It is convenient to trace the course of art from the thirteenth century, through the roots of the Renaissance, past the greatest flowerings of Florentine art and on through Mannerism and up to the eighteenth century.
Time to Tour Uffizi Gallery
If you have planned just 3 hours to tour the museum plan your route through the various halls prioritizing them according to your interests. Do a study of the halls and what you exactly want to see. If you wish to the see the paintings choose those halls and include other halls along the route though the gallery. The various halls have:
- Sculptures – Rich collection of sculptures some of them date back to ancient times.
- Paintings – Most of them are works from 13th to 20th centuries, stunning collection of amazing masterpieces of Western painting.
- Architecture – Spend some time admiring the architectural details. These are constantly renovated. The gallery and work on ceilings are extraordinary.
- Books and archives – Many of them have signatures, personal inscriptions and other autographs of illustrious people…
- Prints and drawings – Amazing collection of works of several artists.
Rooftop Restaurant of Uffizi
After the tour or in between the tour of the various halls of exhibits you can relax at the rooftop restaurant – the Caffetteria Bartolini. Be warned that the prices are on the higher side. Service is good though. You get great views of the Duomo, Campanile and Torre di Arnolfo from here, which thankfully is free.
Florence’s cathedral complex which includes the Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The dome of the basilica is the largest brick dome ever constructed. Viewing the complex from a distance gave a good idea about how it dominates the skyline of this beautiful city.
These shots are the reflected image of the complex on the window pane of rooftop restaurant in Uffizi and the actual scene.
It is so rightly said that no visit to Florence is complete without a visit to Uffizi. Here is a shot of the copy of David just outside Uffizi.
Must be something to be there!
I have had very few instances of no photograph allowed in the museums I've visited. Almost always, the modern art museums allow it and most of the others unless there is a traveling exhibition. The Frick in NYC allows NO photos, at all, ever…
I didn't realize there was a copy of David, though he is looking very well! 😉
Great post.
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How nice it would be for those who are not fortunate to travel to these places if photography were allowed.Is not the pupose and end of art to make many happy.
Nice post
Nice picture and sound information about Florence, thanks.
I think generally it should not be forbidden to take photos in the silence mode and without flash.
Very nice shot of the David.
The best of the bests! Amazing city!
that no photography board is such a pain!! i just returned from Tirupati,where I itched to use a camera, but couldnt!!
Many a times, I am not out off by the No Photography board if it is to maintain scantity or preserve paintings. The copy of David is good, Wonder if you have seen the original
oh beautiful.. I simply enjoyed my there.. and looking at your post.. feel like I want to get on the next flight..
I guess I can understand why the museum does not allow photography, but it's a shame you couldn't get pictures of all that fabulous art you saw. But your words make it obvious you thoroughly enjoyed your visit.
Great capture love it!
Looking at the sky
WOW! Must have been quite an experience. I have seen so many of these statues in so many movies. Would love to visit one day. hopefully soon.
We had the same problem in Greece, where we were sometimes not allowed to take photos, some we were allowed to do so but without flashing or using tripods.
Your photo of David is great!
Its true that the lines are painfully long. But the treasures housed there are well worth the wait ! I bought a couple of postcard booklets showing the more famous paintings.
Sounds like you loved Europe :))
Lovely story written Indrani !!
You have captured him very cool …
Perfectly shot (as ever 😉
We are back
we try to blog again !!!!
((hugs))
Kareltje =^.^=
Anya
aw, too bad for the no foto policy but tnx for the heads up.
i'm also reading your previous posts ah, when you talk about florence or italy for that matter, it's always interesting and the architecture's tremendously amazing. ^0^
It is a beautiful piece of art.
Marvellous shot! And what an experience…
Beautiful SkyWatch posting!
thank you for sharing this beautiful photo work
Happy SWF! Have a good weekend,
Regards, Bram
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Seen on Sky Watch Friday, Season 4, Episode 18
oh, thanks for showing us David.:p
i have always wondered why photography was allowed in the Louvre.
Good shot Indrani.
This brings back memories of our own trip 10 years ago.
Lovely photo. Our museum allowed photography but no flash or videos.
it's disappointing not to be able to snap some shots inside but for the good of them, it's best not too.
i'm sure even without digital reminder, the experience would remain with you forever.
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Interesting. I am also disappointed by that board many places.
No photography! How frustrating as Italy's wonders fall to the ground left and right. Beautiful shots, though!
Sounds like a fantastic visit. I love your shot.
Thank you 🙂
Aloha from Waikiki 🙂
Comfort Spiral
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You have shared your trip with such joy and awe that it is the very next best thing to having been there myself in the places that I haven't been. It's a delightful trip and I look forward to your photos each week! Have a lovely weekend, Indrani!
Sylvia
beautifully profiled..
wow, this piece is so beautiful, we have a replica of this in Davao, but it reaped a controversy owing to the conservativity of our environment…
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Nice of them to put a copy of David outside for you to photograph against the sky, Indrani. Seriously, it's nice that they have put copies outside since there's no photography allowed inside. Of course thousands of camera flashes per day would be very damaging to works of art.
Thank you for sharing your lovely photo with us.
— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Many beautiful photos! 🙂
Very nice photo.Greetings Andrzej.
Must be a real experience.
And as photography is not allowed one has to absorb everything.
You still sound so excited about it and that is understandable. There is good stuff everywhere you look at even if it´s only copies.
Nice picture from little David, did you see the original in the Accademia Museum ?
greetings, Joop