Uffizi Gallery in Florence

It is worth visiting Florence if only because the city has an ancient history, was founded by Julius Caesar himself and for a long time was the main city of the Italian Republic. Many amazing facts are associated with this beautiful city, in which the Renaissance began, and where the genius Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarca, Giovanni Boccaccio worked. If you decide to spend a few days in Florence, in addition to getting acquainted with the ingenious creations of famous architects, writers and artists, you should definitely visit the pearl of this Italian province. Yes, this is the Uffizi gallery, which will be discussed in our review.

Construction history

It turns out that the idea of ​​creating the gallery belongs to the well-known Cosimo I de Medici, who ordered the project of G. Vasari, which was quite daring for that time. A bright representative of the glorious Italian dynasty for a long time nurtured the idea of ​​uniting in one building all the institutions of Florence, within which matters of state and regional importance were decided. Of course, historians saw the customer's mercantile goal as well. In the construction, the Medici wanted to perpetuate the wealth and power of his famous family.

As a result, an ingenious piece of architecture has become a real decoration of the glorious town. This significant event took place in 1581. And since that time it has been considered almost the brightest museum of different art trends in the vastness of Europe. Moreover, in 2008 the building set a kind of record: its halls were visited by 1 million 553 thousand 951 people, which made the Uffizi the most visited on the planet!

It will be interesting to know that the customer of the palace himself could not see the project completed, since he died five years before the work was completed. And literally at once the final purpose of the gallery changed. Instead of an administrative building, it gradually turned into a museum, and its collection began to be replenished every year with new creations of Italian geniuses.

For the first time, the Uffizi opened its doors to visitors at the end of the 16th century, but only representatives of the upper social class could look at the unique collection of cultural and historical values. But ordinary people were allowed to get inside only after a century. And it happened solely by the good will of the last heiress from the Medici family. She decided to donate a wonderful palace to all the people of Florence.

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Popular destination for tourists

As a result, the town has become even more attractive for numerous admirers of beauty. Tourists from all over the world flocked to Florence in order to personally get acquainted with the unique collection of works of art and plunge into the ancient history of the glorious town. The Uffizi Gallery has become a favorite tourist destination over the past few centuries. Just imagine, there are so many people who want to walk through the halls and corridors of the architectural "pearl" that tourists have to spend at least several hours waiting for their turn. And what is to be seen inside is worth such inhuman efforts and sacrifices. After all, a unique world of fine art, the world of sculptures and other masterpieces of ingenious thought opens up before each visitor.

By the way, among the canvases presented, not all were created by the hand of Italian masters. Many paintings have added to the already considerable collection, arriving in Florence from all over the world as a gift or present. So here you can enjoy the masterpieces of the best masters of all times and peoples.

It will not be superfluous to note that the building itself has the shape of the Latin symbol "U" and is located in the central square of the Signoria case. Every resident of Florence knows the main attraction of the city, so even those who come to these places for the first time will find the gallery without much difficulty.

Architecture

In addition to the collection of paintings, architecture itself requires utmost attention. Here you can see hanging gardens, a magnificent theater and unique sculptures. There are also elements of early construction, including the Mint and the Cathedral of St. Pietro Squerajo. Researchers claim that these buildings date back to the 13th century.

It's amazing how the architect Giorgio Vasari was able to foresee long corridors in his creation, the walls of which are so successfully decorated with numerous canvases. Historians who have carefully studied this person know that the genius was an ardent admirer of the visual arts and believed that the long corridors and flights of stairs would be a great exhibition space for the best creations of the masters of the brush. If only he knew how right he was!

Paintings

The paintings housed in the Uffizi Gallery are masterpieces of the great Italian masters of painting of the past. Every picture here is the famous name of the classic of fine art, from Michelangelo to Caravaggio. Each canvas is a real pearl in the sea of ​​painting.

Michelangelo's painting "The Holy Family" was painted not on canvas, but on wood in 1504 by order of the noble Florentine merchant Doni in honor of his wedding anniversary. It is otherwise called "Tondo Doni" ("tondo" in Italian for "round") because of its shape.

The painting expressed the artist's extraordinary talent in creating complex compositions, in a monumental depiction of a person, when the figures of Mary, Joseph and the little Christ seem not drawn, but sculpted in volume. The naked figures of the background of the picture look just as plastic: it seems that every muscle, every bend is alive. Juicy, bright shades of tempera have not faded over the centuries, time has no power over them, as well as over the divine gift of a brilliant artist.

If Michelangelo has more sculptures than paintings, then Botticelli is an artist who gave the world a lot of different genres of paintings presented in the Uffizi. One cannot look away from his masterpiece "The Birth of Venus" - the embodiment of the artist's talent and unearthly love for the prototype of Venus - Simonetta Vespucci, with whom Sandro was passionately in love.

The first beauty of Florence, gentle and charming, the owner of a beautiful figure was the subject of the artist's secret feeling. After her early death, Botticelli resurrected the image of her beloved in a painting depicting the moment Venus came ashore from a divine shell. There is so much chaste beauty, femininity, earthly attraction in the guise of the goddess!

Another painting by Botticelli is also attractive, the plot of which is based on ancient mythology - "Spring". The romantic myth of the wind Zephyr, who, with his love, managed to turn the nymph Chloris into the goddess of flowers Flora, lies at the heart of the plot.

What a happiness for everyone - to see Raphael's Madonnas and Babies, who personify the highest degree of motherhood and love. The most talented creator of his era, Raphael, is represented in the Uffizi by the best canvases: "Sistine Madonna", "Three Graces", "St. Sebastian "," The Lady under the Veil "," The Holy Family ", etc.

Here are the famous masterpieces of Titian "The Penitent Magdalene", "Diana", "Madonna and Child", "Baptism of Christ" and other priceless canvases of the great artist.

True masterpieces are paintings by Verrocchio "The Baptism of Christ", the famous Leonardo da Vinci "Annunciation", the Umbrian artist Perugino "Lamentation of Christ", Piero de Cosimo "The Descent of the Holy Spirit".

How glad it is that in this artistic treasury among the portraits of the great masters of Europe there are 4 portraits of Russian painters: Repin, Kustodiev, Bryullov and Kiprensky.

Opening hours and ticket prices

The huge popularity of the museum and the demand for tickets did their job. The Uffizi is ready to welcome visitors any day except Monday. Tourists who go on a date with a piece of art and history in the summer have a better chance of getting into the halls, since the institution is open until 10 pm. The ticket costs about 7 euros, but for an additional fee, you can avoid the long queue and get inside faster.

Someone calls this approach discrimination and takes offense at the Florentines, while someone does not see anything shameful in taking advantage of such a mutually beneficial offer and speeding up the acquaintance with the brilliant creations of different directions of art.

Recommended reading Guide to Florence.

Visitor Tips

The Uffizi Gallery is a holy place, a repository of the greatest creations of people endowed with a divine gift, and visiting this intimate collection requires certain strict rules that must be followed.

Photography and filming inside is prohibited in order to better preserve the paintings. You cannot bring drinks or other liquids with you, come to the halls with backpacks or bulky bags (they will have to be left in the storage room after standing in line).

The gallery is open every day, except Monday, from 08.30 to 19.00. Taking into account the fact that there are constant long lines (especially at the height of the tourist season), it is worth arriving early so as not to languish in them for more than an hour.

If some dodgy guides offer to go to the gallery without going through the queue, it is better to ignore this: you will have to wait no less, and more money will be spent. There is an opportunity to get a reservation for a visit via the Internet, then the wait will be reduced to 20 minutes, but you will have to spend an extra 4 euros and not be late for the appointed time.

The queue of visitors with tickets ordered via the Internet moves much faster. The entrance ticket costs 9.1 euros. Birthday people and women have the right to enter for free on March 8th.

To ensure a convenient inspection, the gallery offers an audio guide service for 8 euros, taking a deposit in the form of any document: passport, service certificate, driver's license.

It is impossible to see all the masterpieces in one visit; it is best to outline in advance the objects that interest most of all. If you are planning a 3-4-hour stay, you can take a break from the inspection and relax in the cafe on the 2nd floor.

Where is it and how to get there

The Uffizi Gallery is located near Piazza Signoria, between the Palazzo Vecchio and the Arno River.

Address: Piazzale deqli Uffizi, 6. You can reach the gallery on foot in 10 minutes from the Santa Maria Novella railway station. You need to go to Cathedral Square, then along the street. Caldsaioli to pl. Signoria, go to the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) and behind it see the Uffizi building, from visiting which will leave wonderful memories. If you want, you can take a taxi, but it's better to walk to see the ancient Florentine palaces.

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Uffizi Gallery on the map