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.

This museum is off the beaten path and a fun alternative to the very touristy packed places. They…read moreoffer an audio tour and the whole package is well worth the price.

During our tour of Tuscany, we went trough the Museum of Leonardo da Vinci, nestled in the heart…read moreof Vince where he was born. Depending on your interests in da Vinci, will determine your love for what you see. I have always been fascinated by his work and when you go through the museum, you will see some models of his inventions, from a machine to make domes to his flying machines. If you are as fascinated by his work as I am, stop in. It will not take too long to go through the place!

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.

Great museum and production tour - it may not be as large as Porsche or Ferrari but impressive…read morenonetheless! If you want a production tour, schedule ahead of time. If you drive to the museum, be aware they do not have onsite parking. We found parking easily however, if it's a busy day, I am sure it can fill up easily. We found the area safe and a short walk to the museum. The cars in the museum were impressive! Com some of the cars I had driven on the track before, to the newest models which use hybrid technology including capacitors. There is a simulator should you decide you want to drive it and you can choose your track. I drove it and selected Laguna Seca!

3.5 rounded up to 4…read more I booked the early morning factory tour for 9:30 AM. I was the only person on the tour so it was essentially a private tour of the factory, sounds good right? Well no cameras or phones allowed on the tour, but OK. The problem when I went the main factory was closed due to a new production model of Lamborghini being set up so I got to see the SUV factory. It was interesting to see the entire vehicle stations from frame to finish, I think about 20 stations total. All the custom colors, configurations like left or right drive, custom interiors, and wheels/rims. An interesting tour, just would have been better if it was one of the sports model of Lamborghini. On to the museum. The first floor was older more historic models. The second floor was newer models. I had been to the 2 Ferrari museums the day before and liked how they were set up with the model name and info on an easy to read place card. It wasn't until I finished touring the first floor and was about halfway through the send floor that I finally realized that the info on each model was on the stanchions, and not all of them exactly near the car. Not very obvious and the grey lettering on white background doesn't really standout. Overall an interesting museum, especially if you are a car fan. But if you only have time to tour the Lamborghini museum or one of the Ferrari museums I would recommend a Ferrari museum.

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.

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.

Great visit to the Ferrari location yesterday and a great tour of the museum. The museum is more…read morefocused on the racing history of Ferrari (rather than Enzo). So if you want more of the history of him starting Ferrari, visit the museum in Modena. You will see lots of cars which are not specifically racing F1 cars. Recommended time in the museum is about 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Parking is a bit of a challenge but we found a parking lot with a machine but it only took Euro's in coins. It took Apple Pay but only 30 minutes at a time. There were even locals there trying to use it and they could not figure it out! The museum is great and it has an F1 simulator which is fun if you have never been in one. My favorite was the F40 - the automobile which definitely got me into super cars!

Incredible cars....great exhibition. Highly recommend. Then go to Modena to see that exhibit.read more