This place is a f*cking TRIIIIIP. I decided to spend some time here after seeing all the adverts as…read moreI was biking around the wall. The place is HEAVILY advertised, but I really enjoyed it despite the high marketing. I have to say, this isn't for children...it's really kind of creepy and mind-bending. I, however, really enjoyed it because it made you feel all the things. Uncomfortable, spooked, skin crawling, but not because it's violent or horror - this museum is the art produced out of human madness and the pain that comes with it. I tried to go through it without the audio, but coughed up the 2.50 euros for it after since I couldn't make any sense. The audio isn't great, but that's not to say you shouldn't get it. It must have been translated literally from google translate, which gave it a strangely literary, poetic feel. It was hard to make sense of because of the odd syntax, but it kinda made sense with the museum in that it kinda didn't make sense. I definitely had to sit for ten minutes outside in the grass trying to decompress after this. Worth it, but not for everyone!

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 entrance is tricky to find, and I wish I could give helpful tips here but honestly we just…read morewandered around the outside of the building until we found it! If you have a FirenzeCard, this is included, which was great since when we arrived they were only open for an hour longer; the closing time was earlier than what was posted on their sign, 2PM rather than 4PM, but hours seem to be variable and limited at many of the smaller museums. We were able to walk around and saw more fabulous art in the time we had; the second floor is worth seeing as well as it is the old "cells" and library. They are not kidding about closing time...at 1:45 they rang bells, started closing windows, and directing people out. Definitely a good stop if you have a FirenzeCard and are looking for a less crowded place to spend a little time.

Museo di San Marco is an easy two-fer after you've seen David at the Accademia: it's located only…read moreone block north. It features the work of Fra Angelico, another famous Renaissance artist, in both frescoes and paintings. This museum is definitely worth a visit, and in addition to the paintings, the architecture and courtyard are beautiful. Like us, however, if you have come from the Accademia, unless you have started your day extremely early, you are going to run into a time crunch. Believe it or not, this museum closes at 1:50 PM. As a result, we had to rush through and missed quite a bit - but they are very serious about that closing time. On Saturdays, and selected (not every) Sundays/Mondays they do stay open until 4:50 PM. Not having arrived on that "selected" schedule, much of what this museum had to offer would not be seen by us.

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.

Pietre Dure is one of the lesser known and visited museums in Florence. It's a rather small museum…read morebut the fact that it is not crammed with tourists is certainly refreshing. The first floor of the museum consists of several galleries depicting the cultural significance of inlaid stonework during the renaissance while the second floor is an actual Pietre Dure workshop where one can learn about the arduous process by which these intricate tables are put together. The entire museum should take no longer than an hour making it a nice stop before lunch / dinner on a busy day. The museum entrance is also only 4eu (or free with an Uffizi ticket) which is refreshing when compared to other museums in town. Overall a great spot to see some beautiful examples of Renaissance inlaid stonework and craftsmanship. Worth a visit if you only have a bit of time to spare.

As you stand in awe, staring at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, there's a little voice in your…read morehead asking, "How in the world are they preserving/restoring this place?" The laboratory/workshop that restores timeless pieces of art is located at the Opificio Delle Pietre Dure. I had the opportunity to get a private tour through a corporate host for an event. Not only is it a lab, but its a school training students in the art of restoration. As you can imagine, its a painstaking process. Had glimpses into the processes of restoring bronze, stone & ceramic. Our group spent the most time in the mosaics lab. After observing the process, there is a little museum where you can see pieces that have been restored. Its fantastic that Florentines, as a culture, has always valued restoration (The Opificio was founded in 1588). Today, the Opificio dell Pietre Dure e Laboratori de Restauro is an institute of the Ministry of Culture.

This chapel is absolutely stunning. It was fun to see the influence of the Medici family in…read moreFlorence. The dome inside is so detailed and beautiful, I really appreciated the colors and architecture. The chapel is quite small but still worth the visit in my opinion. Admission isn't free, I think it's about 15€ (we bought at the door).

It's impossible to visit the city of Florence without learning the Medici family name and being…read moresurrounded by their influence, which is still visible within the city centuries after the family was run out of Florence and its last surviving members passed away. With that in mind, it's worth a visit to the Medici Chapels to visit the final resting place of several members of the most powerful families in historic Europe. It's not as large as some of the more famous churches in Europe, but that doesn't make it any less of a gem. Arrive early, because there was a line to get in when I visited (took about 30 minutes to get through) and a line to visit the portion of the chapel designed by Michelangelo. If you happen to be in town on the first Sunday of the month, this is included in the state-run museums you can visit. The historic artifacts, architecture, and priceless works of arts housed here (and yes, you'll see works from Michelangelo) make it well worth the visit.

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.