Navigate Your Way Through The Uffizi Gallery | Floor Plan, History, Highlights
What is the Uffizi Gallery?
The Uffizi Gallery is an art museum located in Florence, Italy. It is one of the oldest museums in the world, which displays the private collections of the Medici family. A jewel of Renaissance art, the museum houses an impressive collection that includes works including paintings and sculptures by some of the greatest artists such as Giotto, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo, Raffaello, Michelangelo, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, and Caravaggio, among others. One of the most visited art galleries in the world, the museum sees over 2 million tourists each year.
Uffizi Gallery | Quick Facts
- Type of Attraction: Art Museum
- Location: Florence, Italy
- Founded: 1581
- No of artworks: 300,000 art pieces
- Number of visitors per year: 2 million, approximately
Why Is the Uffizi Gallery a Must-Visit?
- Located in the heart of Florence, Italy, the Uffizi Gallery is one of the oldest and most renowned art museums in the world.
- The gallery is housed in an impressive 16th-century palace showcasing stunning architecture – the perfect backdrop for its remarkable collection of artworks.
- It is the home of some of the most celebrated artworks from the Renaissance period and allows visitors a chance to appreciate hundreds of masterpieces from throughout Europe’s history all under one roof.
Plan Your Visit to Uffizi Gallery
Address: Uffizi Gallery, Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
The Uffizi Museum is located in Florence, Italy. It is situated between the Arno River and Piazza della Signoria, and is one of the oldest buildings in Florence. The Uffizi Gallery has been an important cultural center for centuries. From the Renaissance to modern times, it has been home to the renowned Uffizi Gallery, with has been a major cultural hub for hundreds of years, with works from many famous artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael.
Getting to Uffizi Museum
Tuesday to Sunday, 8:15 AM to 6:30 PM
Ticket office closes at 5:30 PM
Closed: Mondays and 25 December.
Best Time To Visit Uffizi GalleryWho Created the Uffizi Gallery?
The House of Medici, a powerful political and religious dynasty in Florence, with a fine eye for art, was a patron of several artists and sculptures and amassed a wealth of artwork.
In the 1560s, Cosimo I de' Medici, former Duke of Florence, asked Italian painter and architect Giorgio Vasari to design a structure for administrative purposes, as an office, or Uffizi. It was originally imagined as a series of offices and administrative buildings for the Florentine magistrates, which eventually underwent expansion and renovation over time to become one of the world’s most important art galleries.
Giorgio Vasari, regarded as one of the leading figures in 16th-century Mannerism followed an architectural style characterized by its ornate decorations. During his career, he built several fortresses, palaces, and churches, often incorporating elements of classical architecture into his works. For the Uffizi Gallery, however, Vasari opted for a more restrained approach with a symmetrical layout and neutral colors.
The Uffizi Gallery Floor Plan
Ground Floor
The Ground Floor of the Uffizi Gallery is functional and does not actually have any rooms that contain artworks or exhibitions. Instead, you will find a host of other utilities such as the audioguide station, a bookshop, and even a cloakroom. This is also the floor where the entrances and the exit of the museum are located.
When you finish exploring both the first and second floors of Uffizi, make sure to visit Uffizi's exit for souvenir shopping! There is a large bookshop filled with Uffizi-related titles – from books about art and culture to guides on Uffizi. There is also a post office for mailing postcards and an ATM.
First Floor
This floor has a small collection of exhibits that are divided into four sections. The Blue rooms (46 to 55) showcase foreign artists mainly from the 16th to 18th centuries such as Rembrandt, Goya, and Chardin.
The Red Rooms (56 to 66) display paintings and marble sculptures by Raphael, Andrea del Sarto, Rosso Fiorentino, Pontormo, and Vasari, among others. The Carravaggesque Rooms (90 to 93) house the works of Caravaggio and his acquaintances. On this floor is also the Balcony over the Arno, a long corridor with three magnificent sculptures – Medici Vase, Mars Gravidus, and Silenus.
Second Floor
There are 45 rooms on this floor, all located along a U-shaped floor plan flanked by three corridors. The second floor is where the main collection of the Uffizi Gallery is showcased and includes a variety of artworks from antique statues to paintings belonging to the Medici Collection.
You will find Leonardo Da Vinci’s works including the Adoration of the Magi and The Baptism of Christ. One of the major collections is that of Botticelli, more than 15 works are displayed including Birth of Venus and La Primavera. There is a room of miniatures, relics in the archaeology room, a room of ancient maps and other artworks including those of masters like Lippi, Pollaiolo, Perugino, Signorelli, Bellini, Giorgione, Mantegna, and Correggio.
Brief History of the Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery was built in 1560 by Cosimo I de Medici the first Grand Duke of Tuscany to house the administrative and legislative offices of Florence.
Right from 1581, the top floor was used to house the artworks and collections of the family. The collection kept growing and the top floor was divided into rooms to store the artworks properly. In 1743, the last Medici, Anna Maria Luisa de Medici signed the Family Pact which gave ownership of the Uffizi Museum and its contents to the Tuscan state - with the guarantee that none of the artwork would leave Florence. The museum as we know it was opened in 1769, although a few works have been shifted to other museums in Florence.
Uffizi Gallery Architecture
Uffizi Museum is a rare gallery where even the architecture of the venue is considered as important as the art. Some architectural highlights to look out for include the following:
- The Uffizi Palace: Perhaps one of the most important pieces of Italian architecture from the 16th century, this was designed by Giorgio Vasari to house the offices (“uffizi”) of the magistrates of Florence. Created in Classical style, the space is open and bright.
- The Grand Staircase: This opulent staircase is divided into two parts. The first was designed by Vasari in the Florentine Renaissance style and stops at the first floor. The second part leads to the gallery floor and is designed in Neoclassical form.
- The Gallery Corridors: The three corridors on the top floor of the Uffizi Museum feature frescoes that date back to 1550-1700 ca.
- The Tribune: Created in the early 1580s by Bernardo Buontalenti, the Tribune is an octagonal room that was designed in a way that alluded to the four elements.
Collection at Uffizi Gallery
From Renaissance masterpieces to modern artwork, the Uffizi Gallery is home to some of the world's finest artwork.
Woman With a Veil, Raphael
Birth of Venus, Sandro Boticelli
The Spring (evening gown), Rosa Genoni
Pomona, Marini Marino
Angel Playing the lute, Rosso Fiorentino
Select Your Uffizi Gallery Tickets
Frequently Asked Questions About Uffizi Gallery, Florence
A. The Uffizi Gallery is an internationally renowned museum in Florence, Italy. Located on the banks of the Arno River and surrounded by some of the city’s most iconic sights, including the Ponte Vecchio bridge, this museum houses a vast collection of Renaissance-era artworks from some of history’s most celebrated painters, including Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael.
A. The Uffizi Gallery was commissioned in 1560 by the powerful Medici family, who ruled Florence for many years. Originally intended to be offices for the family's political and administrative activities, the building became an art gallery when it opened its doors to the public in 1765. Since then, it has become one of the world's most important art institutions and is a major draw for tourists visiting Florence.
A. Visitors to the Uffizi Gallery will find an impressive collection of Renaissance-era artworks, including paintings, sculptures, manuscripts and more.
A. The Uffizi Gallery was designed and built by the renowned architect Giorgio Vasari beginning in 1560. Vasari was a protégé of the Medici family and he created this iconic building as part of his grand plan for the city.
A. The Uffizi Gallery officially opened in 1765, when Grand Duke Peter Leopold of the House of Medici declared the collection of artwork open to the public.
A. The Uffizi Gallery is famous for its expansive collection of artwork from the Renaissance era, including some of the most celebrated pieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. It is also well known for its iconic architecture and breathtaking views of the Arno River and Florence cityscape.
A. Inside the Uffizi Gallery you will find a vast collection of artwork, including paintings, sculptures, and tapestries from the Medieval through Baroque periods. The museum also features a library and several temporary exhibits throughout the year. Additionally, the gallery is home to a number of important works of art, including Michelangelo's The Entombment, Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, and Raphael's Madonna of the Goldfinch.
A. Unfortunately, admission to the Uffizi Gallery is not free. However, discounted tickets are available to students and visitors under the age of 18. Other visitors will have to purchase Uffizi Gallery tickets to enjoy access to the museum.
A. Tickets for the Uffizi Gallery can be purchased online or in person at the museum. It is recommended to book ahead of time in order to avoid long lines and ensure availability.
A. The Uffiizi Gallery ticket prices start at €20.
A. The Uffizi Gallery is open from 8:15 am to 6:30 pm Tuesday through Sunday. It is closed on Mondays, and select public holidays, such as Christmas.
A. The amount of time needed to visit the Uffizi Gallery depends on individual interests and how much time you want to spend exploring the museum's vast collection and exhibits. Generally, it is recommended that visitors allow at least two to three hours to experience the gallery adequately.
A. Absolutely! The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most important art galleries in the world and offers a unique opportunity to experience some of the greatest works of art ever created. It is truly a must-see destination for anyone visiting Florence.
