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One of the most famous museums in the world, Florence’s Uffizi Gallery is an impressive and friendly structure on the east side of the city. As rewarding as a visit to the Uffizi is to both mind and soul, it can be an imposing experience. Use this guide to help you get an edge over the thousands of tourists that pour in daily…
Things to Keep in Mind:
1.Scheduling- Perhaps the best tip that anyone can give you is to live on a late schedule to get the most out of your trip to the Uffizi. The crowd significantly decreases after 6:30 in the evening, and if you go around that time you'll have a short wait and almost 3 hours alone in the museum. Visit other sights during the day, and save the Uffizi for last...
Also keep in mind that the museum practices seasonal hours, especially in August when the country is officially on a vacation schedule. Hours that month are decreased by at least 2 hours, so be aware.
2.The Guides- Many people, myself included, like to travel without any tourist guides. While this isn’t a problem in general, guides are necessary to make the most of a museum experience. The good news is that the museum provides an extremely useful free guide at the entrance. It’ll be more than enough information for the thrifty, so make sure to stop at the Guide Desk when you first come into the gallery.
Sometimes the best things are free, so stick with the paper guide and stay away from the pitiful audio guides for $5 apiece.
3.Reservations- One of the Uffizi Gallery’s best kept secret is that guests can make reservations in advance, and give the entire waiting line a skip. If you’re planning to visit the museum on a specific day, you can set up a time to visit and buy the tickets in advance. The quickest and easiest way to set up these reservations is through your hotel, where the concierge or deskman can make the arrangements for you in 5 minutes or less. Just remember to let them know at least 48-72 hours in advance, preferably longer.
4.Patience- This is something you’ll need in trumps when you visit the Uffizi, because nothing here moves quickly, especially the line to get in. What can you do to improve your waiting experience? I recommend a “patience pack”, supplies to keep you sane when you’re in line: snacks, a large bottle of water, something to read and a guide to the Uffizi. Use the time to pour over the guide and plan out a route to see whatever interests you…
How could 4 or 5 hours in line really pay off for you? Unlike other popular museums, Florence’s Accademia for example, the Uffizi refuses to allow overcrowding. The number of visitors allowed in the facility at one time is so low that you never feel overwhelmed when you’re inside, there’s always room to move around and even the most popular rooms are all half empty.
Things to See:
1.The Outside Gallery- As crazy as it sounds, one of my favorite parts of the Uffizi Gallery is outside of the building. The main courtyard of the gallery, where the waiting area is, is adorned with approximately 30 statues of famous Italians throughout time. From Dante to Marconi, Vespucci to Da Vinci, this courtyard is a miniature lesson in the rich history of Italy.
2. Botticelli- If you ask me, these are the most impressive works in the gallery, and in Italy as a whole. Botticelli’s pieces are featured in two connecting room, featuring his famous Birth of Venus and Spring. Be prepared to spend a half hour mesmerized by one of the Renaissance’s most passionate painters.
3. The Hall- One of the biggest mistakes first time tourists make is to focus so much on the famous pieces that they miss some of the gallery’s most impressive work. The actual hall of the gallery is the best example of this, filled to the brim with some of the most gorgeous busts and sculptures anywhere in the world. Every inch of the gallery is a piece of art, and you’ll lose out if you take that for granted.
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