The Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the world’s most important museums dedicated to the Renaissance. Let’s discover what to see, the wonders it houses, and, of course, its history.

HISTORY OF THE UFFIZI GALLERY

The Uffizi Gallery was created by Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1560 with the aim of bringing together the city’s administrative offices under one roof, conveniently located near Palazzo Vecchio or the Signoria. This is why the gallery is known as the Uffizi(offices).

Giorgio Vasari designed the building as a “U,” incorporating an existing church and other structures. He also created the Vasari Corridor, a covered passage that connected Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, the residence of Cosimo’s son, Francesco I.

Francesco, I later decided to enclose the top-floor loggia with glass, creating long galleries overlooking the Uffizi courtyard, which he used to display his art collections. It is from this long corridor that the name “Uffizi Gallery” derives.

Buontalenti, also commissioned by Francesco I, created the Tribuna, an exhibition space inspired by the Tower of the Winds in Athens. He also opened a large terrace above the Loggia dei Lanzi, where people could enjoy performances and other public events.

Various inheritances and subsequent acquisitions expanded the Medici’s collection of masterpieces. When the Medici dynasty died out, the House of Lorraine took over, promising to preserve this vast artistic heritage in Florence and prevent its dispersal elsewhere.

The Uffizi Gallery is a treasure trove of Renaissance art and a testament to the vision and patronage of the Medici family and subsequent rulers. Visitors can explore its rich collections, including works by renowned artists such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

In addition to its historical significance, the Uffizi Gallery offers breathtaking views of the Arno River and the city of Florence from its windows and terraces. Its strategic location in the city’s heart makes it an essential stop for art lovers and cultural enthusiasts visiting Florence.

When Napoleon arrived at the end of the 1700s, many treasures ended up in Paris, although they were later returned to their home country. During the 19th century, the Uffizi primarily functioned as a picture gallery, as many sculptures were transferred to the Bargello Museum and the Archaeological Museum.

Another dark period for the Uffizi Gallery was during World War II. The artworks were hidden in various locations to prevent looting by the Germans. However, many fell into enemy hands and were sent to northern Italy, awaiting permanent transfer to Austria. Fortunately, the Monuments Men, a particular Allies unit, intervened in time and brought them back to Florence.

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ARCHITECTURE OF THE UFFIZI GALLERY

The Uffizi Gallery is located between Palazzo Vecchio and the Arno River and is composed of three buildings forming the shape of the letter U. The ground floor loggia is adorned with columns and pilasters. The latter contains niches with statues of historical Florentine figures such as Michelangelo, Giotto, Vespucci, Cosimo I de’ Medici, and Lorenzo the Magnificent.

The covered loggia on the top floor consists of long panoramic galleries. The shorter side of the palace facing the Arno features a large decorated arch in the center. Among the various doors, the Porta delle Suppliche (Door of Supplications) is unique, with its inverted tympanum resembling a pair of wings. In the middle stands the bust of Francesco I de’ Medici. The name of the door derives from the letterbox where Florentines used to deposit their requests.

FLORENTINE RENAISSANCE

Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance, a philosophical, cultural, and artistic movement that spread throughout Italy. It emerged at the end of the Middle Ages, a dark and brutal period where human destiny was believed to be governed by providence.

In contrast, the Renaissance and Humanism place the individual at the center of everything, emphasizing their emotions, virtues, and potential, thus making them the architect of their destiny. During this period, the world was also seen in a new light due to scientific and geographical discoveries and political and religious upheavals across Europe.

This artistic movement flourished in Florence, mainly thanks to Cosimo I de’ Medici and his nephew Lorenzo the Magnificent. Both were powerful bankers who contributed to the city’s prosperity. The Medici, as great patrons, called upon influential artists to embellish their residences, primarily to enhance their prestige. They also financed monumental works such as the cathedral and various Florentine churches.

FEATURES OF RENAISSANCE ART

Renaissance painters, architects, and sculptors employed proportions and perspective to give depth to their masterpieces and used shadows to create a three-dimensional effect. Landscapes and backgrounds in their works gained more importance, but the human figure remained central.

The rediscovery of the Greek and Latin classics, abandoned in the medieval era, played a crucial role in deepening the understanding of humanity, its virtues, intelligence, and creative abilities. The preference was to depict the human body with its basic anatomical forms, capturing its movements and dynamism.

One frequently portrayed hero was David, who was associated with beauty and perfection and therefore depicted in the nude. The female counterpart to this hero was Judith, a strong and determined woman.

The Renaissance spread not only in Italy but also across Europe. It mainly flourished in the Low Countries, Belgium, and Germany, nations with which Florence maintained commercial relations.

VISIT THE UFFIZI GALLERY

The Uffizi Gallery is a treasure trove of artistic masterpieces that trace art history from the 13th to the 18th century.

This museum is primarily renowned for its Renaissance works but also houses earlier pieces such as Greco-Roman statues or late medieval paintings. Post-Renaissance artworks include Baroque and Mannerist paintings and those by European artists.

DISCOVER THE ART OF FLORENCE WITH AN EXPERT GUIDE

Duration: 2 hours, Private Tour

Uffizi Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide

Embark on an interactive treasure hunt at the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in Europe. This tour is perfect for all ages and allows you to discover Renaissance masterpieces as our expert guide unveils the secrets behind iconic works by Michelangelo, Botticelli

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Duration: 1.5 hours, Private Tour

David & Accademia Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide

Visit the Accademia Gallery and immerse yourself in the beauty of Renaissance artworks and statues, including the iconic masterpiece of Michelangelo’s David. With the help of an enthusiastic local guide, your experience is sure to be unforgettable.

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Exhibition halls of the Uffizi Gallery

You understand that there are so many works to be admired. We will try to list only the names of the exhibition rooms and then soon learn about this magazine the masterpieces that you can find in each of them:

– Entrance Hall and east corridor,
– Hall 1 Archaeology,
– Halls of the Middle Age,
– Halls of the Early Renaissance,
– Hall of Botticelli, with extraordinary works such as “Spring” and “Birth of Venus”
– Leonardo hall and adjacent rooms,
– The Tribune,
– Halls of the Renaissance outside Florence,
– Corridor on the Arno River and west Corridor,
– Halls of the 16^th century,
– Halls of the west corridor,
– Blue Halls,
– Red Halls,
– Ademollo Halls,
– Verone on the Arno,
– Halls of Caravaggio,
– And in environments apart: the Cabinet of Drawings and Prints, the Collection Contini Bonacossi, the former church of San Pier Scheraggio and the Sala delle Reali Poste.

SECOND FLOOR OF THE UFFIZI GALLERY

The visit to the Uffizi Gallery begins with a staircase leading directly to the palace’s second floor. After passing through a couple of rooms displaying ancient sculptures, visitors find themselves in one of the immense corridors that run the entire length of the three buildings.

This is the loggia that Francesco I closed with glass windows when he decided to house all his art collections inside. In addition to admiring the splendidly decorated grotesque ceilings depicting scenes from mythology and a beautiful pergola with trompe-l’oeil effects, visitors encounter a multitude of Roman statues. Many of these statues are, in fact, copies of original Greek works. The most scenic part of these galleries offers panoramic views toward Palazzo Vecchio and the Arno River.

The visit to the second floor of the Uffizi Gallery proceeds chronologically, starting from the 13th century and continuing with works from subsequent centuries. Many rooms are dedicated to specific painters such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Perugino, Signorelli, Bellini, Mantegna, and Michelangelo. The exhibition is also organized based on the artists’ origins, so Venetian, Umbrian, Flemish, Dutch, and German paintings are displayed together.

Specific rooms complete this museum, such as the Cabinet of Miniatures, visible from the outside, with portraits collected by the Medici, and the Stanzino delle Matematiche, which now houses bronzes.

The Tribuna degli Uffizi is the central nucleus from which the other exhibition rooms developed. Bernardo Buontalenti designed this environment, drawing inspiration from the octagonal shapes of the Tower of the Winds, located in the Roman agora of Athens, which still exists, and from Christian baptisteries.

Francesco, I then transferred his private collections to this Tribuna, which had been housed until then in the “studio” of Palazzo Vecchio. The purpose was to exhibit these great masterpieces to the public unprecedentedly.

The architecture of the large hall evoked the four elements of nature.

The sparkling dome, covered in mother-of-pearl shells, represents the air. At its peak is a painted wind rose, with the weather vane needle connected to an external weather vane.

The drum is decorated with mother-of-pearl flowers and plants against a blue background, symbolizing water. The walls, covered in crimson velvet, convey the idea of fire. The inlaid floor made of precious stones completes this symbolism, representing the element of earth.

Initially, the Tribuna housed the painted masterpieces, which are now primarily visible in other rooms of the Uffizi Gallery . A cabinet in the middle of the room contained stones and essential artifacts.

Elegant classical statues, including the Venus de Medici, are prominently displayed. The Tribuna is not accessible but can be viewed only through the two open doors to preserve the precious floor.

Sala della Niobe – Uffizi Gallery

The grand Sala della Niobe, commissioned by the Habsburg-Lorraine family, features white and gold stucco decorations with a coffered ceiling. It takes its name from a sculptural group depicting the myth of Niobe. The Roman statues are reproductions of the original Greek ones, which were discovered during excavations in the 1500s. The Medici, renowned collectors, acquired them to embellish their villa on the Pincian Hill in Rome.

The Latin poet Ovid narrated the legend according to which Niobe, the wife of the king of Thebes, boasted about her numerous children—seven sons and seven daughters—compared to the goddess Latona, the mother of Apollo and Artemis. In response to Niobe’s pride, Latona punished her by killing all of Niobe’s children with arrows.

The sculpture of Niobe depicts the goddess defending her youngest daughter and, overwhelmed by grief, transforming into a stone column from which tears flow. Niobe’s children called the Niobids, are also represented, either seeking protection or in the moment of their death.

The walls of the Sala della Niobe also feature large paintings, including two by the Flemish painter Rubens, depicting the life of Henry VI of France.

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Embark on an interactive treasure hunt at the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in Europe. This tour is perfect for all ages and allows you to discover Renaissance masterpieces as our expert guide unveils the secrets behind iconic works by Michelangelo, Botticelli

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David & Accademia Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide

Visit the Accademia Gallery and immerse yourself in the beauty of Renaissance artworks and statues, including the iconic masterpiece of Michelangelo’s David. With the help of an enthusiastic local guide, your experience is sure to be unforgettable.

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SALA DELL’ERMAFRODITO UFFIZI GALLERY

The room housing the Sleeping Hermaphroditus is beautiful and evocative; depending on the time of visit, it may have different arrangements. The main focus is on this Roman statue portraying the languidly reclining son of Hermes and Aphrodite resting on a mattress.

According to the myth, Hermaphroditus was so beautiful that the water nymph Salmacis fell in love with him and desperately wished for them to be together forever. When the gods granted her request, they fused them into a single body with both sexes.

The statue of the Sleeping Hermaphroditus in the Uffizi Gallery is a copy of a Roman sculpture, which in turn was a reproduction of a Hellenistic work from the 2nd century BCE. Over time, several copies were made, one housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

First Floor Rooms of Uffizi Gallery

After a well-deserved break at the café, taking advantage of its beautiful terrace above the Loggia dei Lanzi and the fantastic view of Piazza della Signoria, you continue to the museum’s lower level.

If the gallery is located on the top floor of the Uffizi Gallery, the first level houses the so-called “verone.” It is a covered terrace with glass windows on both sides, positioned precisely above the arch on the shorter side of the palace.

Artists and era group the rooms. The blue rooms display works by Spanish, Dutch, French, and Flemish artists from the 16th to 18th centuries. The red rooms contain Hellenistic marble and masterpieces by Andrea del Sarto, Rosso Fiorentino, Pontormo, Vasari, Bronzino, and Raphael.

The visit then continues with paintings by Correggio, Parmigianino, Giorgione, Titian, and Lombard painters. It concludes with the striking Caravaggio rooms, where visitors can admire works such as Caravaggio’s “Bacchus” and “Medusa” and Artemisia Gentileschi’s “Judith Beheading Holofernes.”

FAMOUS WORKS OF THE UFFIZI GALLERY

The Uffizi Gallery houses countless masterpieces that can be admired, but some mainly attract crowds of visitors worldwide.

RAFFAELLO SANZIO AT THE UFFIZI GALLERY

Among the most important works by Raphael exhibited at the Uffizi is “The Madonna of the Goldfinch.” However, its title is “Madonna with Child and Saint John the Baptist,” created in 1506.

The painting features the Madonna seated, with Jesus Child and Saint John the Baptist beside her. Saint John offers a goldfinch to Jesus, who caresses it, placing his little foot on his mother’s as if seeking her protection. The goldfinch is a symbol of Christ’s passion, as it was believed to have tried to remove thorns from Jesus’ forehead during the crucifixion.

Behind the figures, the landscape is depicted with perspective, a characteristic of Renaissance artists.

It is a very moving painting that foreshadows the sacrifice of Christ. Other works by Raphael at the Uffizi include his “Self-Portrait” and “Saint John the Baptist.”

ROSSO FIORENTINO – UFFIZI GALLERY

One of Rosso Fiorentino‘s notable works is “The Musician Angel,” painted in 1521 by Giovan Battista di Jacopo, known as Rosso Fiorentino due to his red hair. The work is also called “Child with a Lute” and is characterized by its black background covering the previous scene. This painting was likely part of a more extensive work, perhaps an altarpiece. It is a lovely and delicate image, with the little angel trying to play the lute larger than himself.

CARAVAGGIO – UFFIZI GALLERY

Caravaggio‘s real name was Michelangelo Merisi, and he stood out from other painters of his time because he preferred to depict common subjects, still lives, and scenes from everyday life. His mature works are illuminated solely by a natural light source, which enhances the expressiveness of the characters’ faces.

Caravaggio led a tumultuous life due to his impulsive nature and even committed acts of homicide. This is why he often had to flee, such as to Malta.

In addition to “Bacchus,” a painting rich in symbolism and details, you can see “The Sacrifice of Isaac” and the shield with the “Head of Medusa.” The Medici family revered the Medusa figure and represented prudence and wisdom. Initially, the shield was part of the Medici collection and was displayed in the Hall of Parade Armor.

Caravaggio‘s depiction of Medusa is imbued with the full dramatic intensity of the moment, with her mouth wide open in a scream before her death. The expressive eyes, bulging from their sockets, are accompanied by snakes on her head. Like many of Caravaggio’s works, the background makes the scene more tragic.

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Duration: 2 hours, Private Tour

Uffizi Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide

Embark on an interactive treasure hunt at the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in Europe. This tour is perfect for all ages and allows you to discover Renaissance masterpieces as our expert guide unveils the secrets behind iconic works by Michelangelo, Botticelli

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Duration: 1.5 hours, Private Tour

David & Accademia Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide

Visit the Accademia Gallery and immerse yourself in the beauty of Renaissance artworks and statues, including the iconic masterpiece of Michelangelo’s David. With the help of an enthusiastic local guide, your experience is sure to be unforgettable.

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ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI – UFFIZI GALLERY

In the Caravaggio rooms, in addition to Caravaggio‘s version, it is possible to admire Artemisia Gentileschi’s “Judith and Holofernes,” a significant painter and practically the only prominent female artist of the 17th century. The Uffizi painting dates back to 1620 and is a later rendition of the same subject displayed in Naples, but it features greater detail.

Artemisia tells the story of the Jewish heroine Judith, who, through deceit, intoxicates and kills the Assyrian general Holofernes, who has been besieging her city. The scene also represents the sexual violence that Artemisia endured at the hands of another painter, which went unpunished.

LEONARDO DA VINCI – UFFIZI GALLERY

There are three works by Leonardo da Vinci exhibited at the Uffizi. “The Baptism of Christ” is a painting by Verrocchio, created around 1470. Verrocchio asked his pupil, Leonardo, to help him complete the work. Da Vinci painted the angel in profile with delicate touches, and his beauty was such that Verrocchio decided to abandon painting after that since the student had surpassed the master.

“The Annunciation,” executed between 1472 and 1475, depicts the moment when the archangel Gabriel announces to the seated Madonna in front of a podium. The background features a classic Renaissance landscape.

“The Adoration of the Magi” from 1482 is an unfinished painting due to Leonardo‘s hasty departure to the court of Ludovico Sforza in Milan.

DISCOVER THE ART OF FLORENCE WITH AN EXPERT GUIDE

Duration: 2 hours, Private Tour

Uffizi Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide

Embark on an interactive treasure hunt at the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in Europe. This tour is perfect for all ages and allows you to discover Renaissance masterpieces as our expert guide unveils the secrets behind iconic works by Michelangelo, Botticelli

BOOK NOW

Duration: 1.5 hours, Private Tour

David & Accademia Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide

Visit the Accademia Gallery and immerse yourself in the beauty of Renaissance artworks and statues, including the iconic masterpiece of Michelangelo’s David. With the help of an enthusiastic local guide, your experience is sure to be unforgettable.

BOOK NOW

PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA – UFFIZI GALLERY

“The Duke and Duchess of Urbino” consists of two juxtaposed panels depicting Duke Federico da Montefeltro and his wife, Battista Sforza. The background portrays scenes from their lands. It is another secular painting, but its uniqueness lies in the whiteness of the duchess, who had already died in childbirth at the time of the painting’s creation. The choice to depict the couple in profile was because the duke was cross-eyed.

SANDRO BOTTICELLI – UFFIZI GALLERY

The masterpieces of Sandro Botticelli are practically the symbol of the Uffizi Gallery, and the artist has dedicated four rooms in the gallery.

Sandro Botticelli became a member of the Neoplatonic academy established by the Medici, which drew inspiration from the ideals of the classical and mythological world. It is no coincidence that when we think of the Renaissance with secular scenes, we cannot overlook the two paintings by this artist, “The Birth of Venus” and “Primavera.”

These two paintings were commissioned by Lorenzo the Magnificent‘s cousin for the Medici villa in Castello. What is noticeable is the resemblance of the female figures in both of these works. Notably, the artist used a certain Simonetta Vespucci as a model, considered one of the most beautiful women in Florence at that time.

BOTTICELLI’S VENUS – UFFIZI GALLERY

Botticelli‘s Venus was considered an icon of beauty at the time. However, her anatomical proportions do not correspond to reality but are instead idealized.
The painting “The Birth of Venus,” created in 1485, depicts the goddess of beauty and love standing in a seashell. Born from the sea foam, she is pushed ashore by the west wind, Zephyrus, embraced by the nymph Chloris or Aura, according to other interpretations. Hours, a nature deity awaits her to dress her in a mantle of flowers.

This is one of the few Uffizi Gallery paintings depicting a mythological scene. Venus’s naked body is only covered by her wind-tousled hair. Naturally, there are various interpretations of this fantastic Renaissance artwork.

BOTTICELLI’S PRIMAVERA – UFFIZI GALLERY

“Primavera,” created by Botticelli in 1480, again depicts mythological characters, but in this case, Venus is clothed. As in the previous painting, Zephyrus is entwined with Chloris, and the goddess of flowers is next to them. On the opposite side, Mercury holds back a low cloud to prevent bad weather, and there are three dancing Graces.

The scene takes place in a lush forest, where you can count 138 species of plants and flowers. In this case, the painting “Primavera” features more vibrant and contrasting tones than those in “The Birth of Venus,” which are more delicate and muted.

According to art historians, Venus is wearing garments of red and white, a clear allusion to the Florentine Republic. Mercury, on the other hand, recalls the figure of Giuliano de’ Medici, who died during the Pazzi conspiracy during a mass at the Florence Cathedral.

ADORAZIONE DEI MAGI DI BOTTICELLI – (Adoration of the Magi )

The third notable painting by Botticelli is “Adoration of the Magi,” painted in 1475, created before his other two more famous works. In this case, the artist depicts members of the Medici family in the roles of the characters in the painting. He also includes his image, looking out at the viewer of the artwork.

Botticelli‘s life changed abruptly with the fall of the Medici and the spread of the ideas of Girolamo Savonarola, who railed against the corruption of society and the Church. In the last period of his life, he focused solely on sacred themes, even renouncing his earlier works.

MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI – THE UFFIZI

The “Sacra Famiglia” or “Tondo Doni” is one of Michelangelo‘s most important paintings in the Uffizi. It takes its name from its particular circular shape, as well as from the Doni family. Agnolo Doni commissioned the painting to commemorate his marriage to Maddalena Strozzi, who belonged to another prominent Florentine family.

The painting depicts Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in a moment of happiness. Michelangelo employs perspective extensively and positions the young John the Baptist behind them, along with other distant figures of young nudes.

All the characters are represented according to the canons of classical beauty, with fairly pronounced musculature. The composition of the painting, with the twisting of the Madonna toward Jesus and the exchanged glances, fits the shape of the artwork.

Even the frame of the painting was created by Michelangelo, who incorporated the heads of the Messiah and the prophets all around it.