I've lived in Florence for two years and never once heard about this place! During our stay in…read moreFlorence last week, one of my old friends recommended that we check it out. My husband, who is a science/zoology buff was floored by how much interesting stuff was in the relatively small space. There are about ten different rooms that are filled with fossils, specimen, and taxidermied animals. Some of the rooms were a bit boring, but the finals rooms totally make up for it. The end of the museum is comprised of wax anatomical models from the 1700's that were used by medical students studying surgery and basic anatomy. It was truly incredible to see these beautiful wax figures with their guts spilling out. It truly was a sight to see!! They also have a beautiful observatory room with a giant telescope, but you have to make an appointment to see it. We were so amazed by all of the wonders in the museum. There is a also a beautiful garden in the back that's nice to check out when it's open. It's a great stop for people with children, or for people looking to take a break from art museums.

Fell in love with this place. Family members who had been before raved about it so I was eager to…read morecheck it out and it was cooler than I even expected. Room after room of fossils, animals, minerals and exotic plants acquired by several generations of the Medici. Located right near the Pitti Palace, it was weird to me how few people were there. Fine with me! I got to look at everything and take plenty of pictures. The anatomical wax models were so cool...used to teach medical students. A really great rainy day stop.

Florence is like the birthplace of STEM, so when visiting here, going to the Galileo Museum is a…read moreMUST! Learning of not only Galileo, but his followers who came after him and the benefactors - the Medici family, was inspirational. It made me realize how bravery is foundational to how science evolves a society, and how essential loyal benefactors are to helping with the change. Truly amazing.

In ancient times, to know the time, people used the sundial, a measurement tool based on the…read moredetection of the position of the sun. Sundials had a gnomon, the bar whose shadow marked the time on the dial. Standing outside the Museo Galileo near the Uffizi Gallery at the Palazzo Castellani in Florence, my partner, our friends, family member, and I stumbled on the Monumental Sundial on our way to find an establishment for lunch in September. Originally built in 2007, a tall bronze obelisk constitutes the gnomon of a modern sundial, which casts its shadow on the lines of travertine marble and brass flanked by the signs of the zodiac in glass and marble placed on the ground, indicating time and date. It was visually stunning.

The Accademia Gallery in Florence offers a focused, more intimate, and ultimately defined by a…read moresingle, overwhelming masterpiece, Michelangelo's David. Founded in the late 18th century as a teaching collection, it evolved into one of Italy's most important art institutions You slowly move through the gallery of Renaissance paintings and plaster models. You curiosity begins to build as you anticipate viewing this famous David. Quite impressive...the statue's size, precision details, and sculpture expertise lives you in awe. The Accademia's smaller size allows for a more intimate experience. It highlights Michelangelo's works as well as adding meaningful context.

You cannot visit Florence without visiting Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's David…read more Though I had a tour guide, I felt like the pace was too slow. It's a great museum, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather beat the crowds to see David, and then take my time strolling through all the other works of art. Seeing 17' of David in person is unreal-- a human made this out of rejected marble. The magnitude of David's height and attention to detail is incredible and the lighting under a skylight highlights every vein and definition of muscle even more so. If you're looking for a deep dive art history lesson, I'd recommend using AI. Note: try to book skip-the-line tickets in advance. If you're unable to, you can try to book through a third party booking system such as Viator, but you'll be paying more.

From the Middle Ages to the present day, Piazza della Signoria, between Piazza del Duomo and the…read moreArno River, is the beating heart of the historic center of Florence with its distinctive L-shape, which my partner, our friends, family member, and I visited in mid-September. Palazzo Vecchio, the traditional seat of the Florentine government, with its distinctive tower, is yet another symbol of the city. In front stands a copy of Michelangelo's David (the original can be seen at the Accademia Gallery). One of the most impressive squares we've ever seen! The piazza looks like an outdoor museum, full of iconic statues and history in every corner. One can't miss the Fountain of Neptune that was commissioned to celebrate a Medici marriage. It is a colossal statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea and the counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon. The atmosphere is vibrant and lively with both tourists and locals, perfect to enjoy both during the day and at night. Definitely a must-see in Florence!

Nice gathering place next to Ponte Vecchio. There's a beautiful fountain here and plenty of places…read moreto gather and dine. I love these Italian palazzos!

November 9, 2024 1:30PM…read more What a beautiful church. This wasn't on our must see list while in Florence but so glad we made a pit stop here while looking for the leather school. Very short line to get in, I believe it was about 8 euros per person for a visit. We ended up spending about an hour ish browsing around. There were a lot of famous folks buried here... Right before our honeymoon we had lost my beloved kitty on the operating table for a dental procedure, she was 3.5 yo... on the same day we lost my mother in law to her battle with MS. It had been a rough couple of weeks before our trip. For some reason while sitting in this church I had an overwhelming feeling of sadness and relief at the same time. Which made this place so memorable for me. Known as the "Pantheon of Florence," it's the largest Franciscan church and serves as the burial site for famous Italians like Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Its history involves significant artistic decoration, including Giotto's frescoes, and later additions like the Neo-Gothic facade. Such a beautiful historic site with so much to look at. Definitely recommend to check them out if you ever visit Florence.

Located about 2,600 feet southeast of the Duomo, my partner, our friends, family members, and I…read morearrived at the Piazza di Santa Croce and the Basilica of Santa Croce (Italian for Basilica of the Holy Cross) St. Francis visited Florence at the beginning of the 13th century, and a few years later some friars of his congregation decided to stop in the city and build a church with a convent and an adjacent library. Thus was born this church. Today Santa Croce is a museum complex that brings together the Basilica, the chapels, the monastery, the bell tower, and the part dedicated exclusively to exhibitions, such as the former refectory, where we came last Tuesday. The €10 entry fee was well worth it. One has to wear appropriate outfits to gain entry. Basically, just make sure one has long shorts below the knees and arms are covered. Once inside this ornate Florentine gothic style, our attention is immediately drawn to the east end, where the tall narrow stained glass windows pierce the walls. The center nave is wide and well-lit. What is significant about Santa Croce is it became the resting place of so many great Italians, such as the great historian and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, sculptor and painter Michelangelo Buonarroti, astronomer Galileo Galilei, and composer Gioachino Rossini. There were probably more than a thousand art pieces on display here, including works of Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Giotto. One can easily spend half a day here--there is that much to see and explore!

25th Wedding Anniversary trip alert (European vacation)…read more.. The Uffizi Gallery is housed in a long, elegant structure designed in the 16th century by Giorgio Vasari for the powerful Medici family, the gallery retains an air of purpose and grandeur, its corridors opening toward views of the Arno River and the city's historic skyline. The Uffizi collection is widely considered one of the finest in the world, particularly for Italian Renaissance painting, and includes works by masters such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Iconic paintings like Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera feel both familiar and astonishing when encountered in person. Their scale are beyond belief. The depth and breadth of the gallery is a bit overwhelming, with dozens of rooms and hundreds of masterpieces, creating moments where wonderment converges with a bit of tiredness. What lingers most is the sense of continuity: the Medici legacy encapsulated every wall, and the feeling that one is walking through the very cradle of Renaissance thought. The building itself is stunning...frescoed ceilings, eye-catching statues, and glimpses toward Florence's landmarks. Uffizi Gallery reinforces the idea that art, history, and city are intricately connected. Prepare to take adequate time to view the exhibits

November 6, 2024 3:45-6:45PM…read more We initially didn't plan to visit but was told this is a must do in Florence. I'm glad we did. I love art museums and thought this was more religious artifacts but glad to see some of my new favorite paintings in person. Silly me! Upon entering the museum, there a lot of stairs to climb. Get your exercise in for sure! I did see a very tiny elevator a little bit hidden to the side, so they definitely can accommodate those needing accessibility but plan accordingly as the elevator was tiny, probably one stroller/wheelchair at a time. The Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Spring are both so amazing to see in person. The works of Caravaggio were very powerfully presented. The da Vinci, the Michelangelo, the Raphael... so many great artist and their works are housed here. Lots of Sweet Baby Jesus and the Madonna, various Adam and Eve paintings.. My favorite besides Botticelli's, was from Pietro Perugino's a Portrait of a young man.. the eyes, the emotions, almost the sadness... what a great painting. The various views from the Uffizi Galleries of Florence was also pretty amazing, from Ponte Vecchio, along the Arno River and the view of the city... so glad we went during sunset as I caught some pretty great shots with just my iPhone. I definitely think this is worth the stop and glad to have this as an impromptu visit. Got in pretty quickly without a reservation either, we were very lucky.

This is one of the few places open on Mondays and we were pleasantly surprised that it was not at…read moreall crowded despite limited options available on Mondays to all of us tourists....you can also use the FirenzeCard here. We were really impressed with the wide range of sculptures, ceramics, paintings and architecture here. This is another place where it's important to look up to appreciate the ceilings in addition to the art on display in each room. Definitely don't miss this museum if you're visiting Florence!

Bargello was a government office in the 1200s, then a prison where they executed people. Around the…read more1800s all of this was abolished, and the building was restored to its original likeness. The most famous piece here is Donatello's DAVID from 1440. Down the street is Michelangelo's DAVID, two very different works of art depicting the same event, the defeat of goliath. Donatello's statue is small, and depicts David as a young boy as opposed to a muscular man. His bronze piece predates Michelangelo's sculpture by 65 years. The entire Donatello room is special. Must visit if you're an art enthusiast.

The Uffizi Gallery is the museum that everyone comes to see in Florence. It is one of the largest…read moreand most famous museums in the world. Make your reservations to visit before you come here. You probably should plan to spend the day here as the museum has so much to see. You will be treated to masterpieces by Raphael, Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Simone Martini, Lippo Memmi, Gentille da fabriano, plus so many more artists. You should do some research of exactly what you want to see if you are time limited. At the request of Cosimo I de'Medici, the Gallery was built by Giorgio Vasari, the famous Renaissance architect, and completed in 1581. You will be awestruck when you learn that this is all one family's collection - the Medicis. There are 101 rooms to visit. In addition to the paintings, there are many Roman sculptures in the corridors. We had not visited the museum since 2003 when we brought our children and grandchildren to Italy. Our main reason for coming now was to see the Vasari Corridor that we had been waiting for years to open. (It has been closed for over 10 years.) We arrived at 9:00 AM, and the lines were already long for those without tickets. I was impressed with the ease of getting in and getting the wheelchair for me, but it kind of ended there. We get all the way to where the elevator is, only to be told it is not working. We had to leave the building, go outside, and go into another building to access the museum. You would think a museum like the Uffizi could keep their elevators in working order. We took the time before our scheduled tour of the Vasari Corridor to visit the museum. It is truly a lovely museum! So, then we went to go to see the Vasari Corridor. What a mess that was. There is a very long staircase that one has to go down to get to the corridor. At the top, there was a chair lift of sorts that the museum people did not know how to work. Actually, I was too scared to use it. I had to walk down the stairs. They carried the wheelchair down. The tour guide only did the tour in Italian and there was a guide behind the group who tried to hustle us along. I told her I was going to take my time and not to rush us thru - I wanted to look out each and every window that the Medicis did on their walk to the Pitti Palace. Designed by Giorgio Vasari to allow the Grand Dukes to move safely from their private residence in Palazzo Pitti to the seat of government in Palazzo Vecchio, this overhead walkway remains unique and was built according to the wishes of Duke Cosimo I de' Medici in 1565 on the occasion of his son Francesco's marriage to Joanna of Austria. The walkway was built in just five months. The total route is less than a half mile long, beginning from the Uffizi Gallery up to the exit next to the Buontalenti Grotto in the Boboli Gardens. The Medici did not want to have to walk on the Ponte Vecchio as then it was full of butcher shops. You can just imagine what it must have smelled like. The corridor runs above the city streets, along and over the Arno, enters buildings, goes around the Torre de' Mannelli and tops the Church of Santa Felicita, in a succession of unusual panoramic views. It was inspired by the passageway between the Vatican and Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, which saved the life of Pope Clement VII, born Giulio de' Medici, who managed to escape from the army of Charles V during the sack of Rome in 1527, as well as the Bramante passageway, built in 1505, to connect the Vatican Apostolic Palaces with the Casino del Belvedere of Innocent VIII. We thoroughly enjoyed each and every window we looked out of and the views they gave us of Florence and everyday life. When we got to the end - there was another long staircase to go up - thankfully they had an elevator, but they made us walk the longest distance to get out of the Pitti Palace when there was an exit much closer to get outside. I really wish I could have seen the corridor when it still had the paintings and sculptures in it. All it is now is an empty corridor with white walls, but the views from the windows are stunning. Just pick your time of day to visit carefully to get the best daylight hours.

Do not do this experience. It is a waste of time and extremely boring. They have removed all of the…read moreartwork from the corridor so you are just walking along an empty corridor for about half an hour. When we visited, the busts that were replacing the artwork were all covered with cloth so you couldn't even see them.

The Ferragamo Museum in Florence is a must for anyone who loves fashion, history, or timeless…read morestyle. The exhibits are beautifully curated and tell such a thoughtful story about craftsmanship, innovation, and Italian design. Seeing Audrey Hepburn + Marilyn Monroe's Ferragamo shoes in person were a highlight -- a quiet but powerful reminder of how elegance truly never goes out of style. The photography, archival pieces, and storytelling make the experience feel intimate and inspiring rather than overwhelming.

I'm a fan of Ferragamo, so when I learned that there was a museum showcasing the history of the…read morebrand and its namesake founder, I thought it would be a great attraction to add to my itinerary. That being said, I carved some time into our itinerary the last full day we were in Firenze to check it out. The museum is conveniently located on the lower level of the Ferragamo boutique; I purchased tickets in advance, and after showing my vouchers I was given a little information about the layout of the space before being led into the main area. The museum was divided into several rooms; some of the highlights for me were a timeline of Ferragamo's history, a showcase of all of his celebrity clients along with his shoes they wore, and the custom molds he had for some of his clients. The museum was actually bigger than I expected - I'm not sure but for some reason I thought it would only be a room or two but we ended up spending close to an hour there exploring. Overall, I really enjoyed time time at the Museo - I may be biased due to my affinity to Ferragamo, but even if you're not really into the brand it provides great insight into Sal's place in world culture.

I liked it but I wouldn't say it's something I'd recommend because it's pretty small and crowded. I…read moredoubt there's a "good" time to go but who knows. It was something to kill time and I did learn something so I gave 3 stars. However, I've been to many museums and this one didn't really strike it for me. The place does have a few interesting props so definitely check it out if you're bored and have kids. I went with my boyfriend and he wasn't into it.

The Leonardo Da Vinci museum was a great museum showcasing Leonardo's inventions big and small…read more Almost all of them had interactive models. There were stations where you could build his bridge and other famous shapes. There was also a room showcasing his famous artwork. Highly recommend! Was about 30min to go through most of it.