Go back in time by visiting the Uffizi Gallery
The building of the Uffizi Gallery houses an impressive collection of works of art of inestimable value, derived from the collections of the Medici family but enriched over the centuries by trades, donations and bequests. A place unique in the world that will make you take a journey through time. Find out hidden curiosities in each work and the history that led to the creation of this special place! The story is long but we will try to tell you how they were put together so many wonderful works.
The construction of the Uffizi Gallery
First of all the Uffizi Gallery it was not immediately thought to house a museum. Instead, it was built by Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici as the new seat of government, to gather next to the Palazzo Vecchio, the 13 most important Florentine magistrates who were scattered in different places. In this way, these “offices” could all be under his direct supervision. The works was entrusted to Giorgio Vasari who designed a building in the shape of “U” in the part overlooking the Arno River and from the courtyard would always be visible Palazzo Vecchio.
The Uffizi Gallery hosts the first works of art in Florence and becomes a museum
It was the Duke Francesco I de’ Medici, son of Cosimo, to transform in 1581 the loggia of the last floor of the building in personal gallery where he arranged the collections of paintings of the 15th century as well as works of his contemporaries (statues, armours, scientific instruments, naturalistic rarities), portraits of the Medici family and famous men. When the collection was made visible by request, he made the Uffizi one of the oldest museums of Europe!
Uffizi Gallery: a museum increasingly rich
With the Duke Ferdinando I de’ Medici, the collection was enriched with a series of famous men’s portraits (the Jovian Series), it was built the hall of the maps and the closet of Mathematics, environments dedicated to the manufactures and the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, the collections of weapons and armours and a hall with precious stones brought in dowry by Christina of Lorraine around 1588. At the time of Ferdinand II de’ Medici, his wife Vittoria della Rovere, the last descendant of the Dukes of Urbino, brought him as a dowry a rich collection of works by Tiziano, Piero della Francesca, Raffaello, Federico Barocci and others. Other works of the Venetian school came here thanks to the Cardinal Leopoldo de’ Medici, brother of the Grand Duke, which began with great passion to collect drawings collection, miniatures and portraits. Then, towards the end of ‘600 with Cosimo III de’ Medici, the new halls of the Uffizi Gallery housed a new collection of self-portraits, refined porcelains, medals, drawings and bronzes and over time Cosimo III bought many Flemish paintings (also by Rubens) and some precious Roman statues, like the famous Venus de’ Medici.
Fate of the Uffizi Gallery works: from the Medici to the Lorraine
After the Medici dynasty, the works of art were sold to Lorraine by Anna Maria Luisa, sister of the last descendant of the Medici, on condition that the works would be remained in Florence and would be inalienable. Other works came from 1793 thanks to the relationships with the Austrian real family: masterpieces by Tiziano, Giovanni Bellini, Giorgione, Dürer and others and in 1799 came to Florence also ancient sculptures from the Villa Medici in Rome.
The statues outside the Uffizi Gallery and the new signings
Date back to ‘800 the statues of famous Tuscan characters from the Middle Ages to the 19th century located in the niches of the pillars outside the gallery: among these, there are also depicted Giotto, Dante and Michelangelo as well as the most important figures of the Medici family.
With the unification of Italy, many works, especially sculptures, were transferred to other museums in Florence, the Bargello and the Archaeological Museum.
During the ‘900 were bought other works, such as the Portinari Triptych coming from churches and other religious institutions and finally the Collection Contini Bonacossi.
Exhibition halls of the Uffizi Gallery
You understand that there are so many works to be admired. We will try to list only the names of the exhibition rooms and then soon learn about this magazine the masterpieces that you can find in each of them:
– Entrance Hall and east corridor,
– Hall 1 Archaeology,
– Halls of the Middle Age,
– Halls of the Early Renaissance,
– Hall of Botticelli, with extraordinary works such as “Spring” and “Birth of Venus”
– Leonardo hall and adjacent rooms,
– The Tribune,
– Halls of the Renaissance outside Florence,
– Corridor on the Arno River and west Corridor,
– Halls of the 16th century,
– Halls of the west corridor,
– Blue Halls,
– Red Halls,
– Ademollo Halls,
– Verone on the Arno,
– Halls of Caravaggio,
– And in environments apart: the Cabinet of Drawings and Prints, the Collection Contini Bonacossi, the former church of San Pier Scheraggio and the Sala delle Reali Poste.
Information on Uffizi Gallery
Open from Tuesday to Sunday: from 8:15 to 18:50
Cost of the entire ticket entrance: € 8,00 (reduced € 4,00)
In case of temporary exhibitions the price includes an additional amount (at the moment it is €12,50 for the exhibition “Discoveries and Massacres. Ardengo Soffici and the avant-garde in Florence”).
Tickets are also available online from the website of the Florentine State Museums >
See you in Florence for a trip through the art of the Uffizi Gallery!
Waiting for your next stay in Florence, please visit the Uffizi Gallery with Google Art and Culture.
