Uffizi Gallery in Florence – photo, description, paintings, opening hours, ticket price 2021, map
It is worth visiting Florence, if only because the city has an ancient history, was founded by Julius Caesar himself and for a long time was the main city of the Italian Republic. Many amazing facts are connected with this beautiful city, in which the Renaissance began, and where the brilliant Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarca, Giovanni Boccaccio worked. If you decide to spend a few days in Florence, in addition to getting to know the brilliant creations of famous architects, writers and artists, you should definitely visit the pearl of this Italian province. Yes, this is the Uffizi Gallery, which will be discussed in our review.
Construction history
It turns out that the idea of creating a gallery belongs to the notorious Cosimo I de Medici, on whose order a very bold project for that time by G. Vasari was implemented. A bright representative of the glorious Italian dynasty for a long time nurtured the idea of uniting in one building all the institutions of Florence, within which matters of state and regional importance were decided. Of course, historians also saw the mercantile goal of the customer. In the construction, the Medici wanted to perpetuate the wealth and power of his famous family.
As a result, a brilliant example of architecture has become a real decoration of the glorious town. This significant event took place in 1581. And since that time it has been considered almost the brightest museum of various art directions in the vastness of Europe. Moreover, in 2008 the building set a kind of record: 1 million 553 thousand 951 people visited its halls, which made the Uffizi the most visited on the planet!
It will be interesting to know that the customer of the palace himself could not see the project completed, as he died five years before the work was completed. And literally immediately changed the final purpose of the gallery. Instead of an administrative building, it gradually turned into a museum, and its collection began to be replenished every year with new creations of Italian geniuses.
For the first time, the Uffizi opened its doors to visitors at the end of the 16th century, but only representatives of the highest social class could look at the unique collection of cultural and historical values. But ordinary people were allowed to get inside only a century later. And it happened solely by the good will of the last heir of the Medici family. She decided to give a wonderful palace to all the people of Florence.
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Popular place for tourists
As a result, the town has become even more attractive for numerous admirers of beauty. Tourists from all over the world rushed to Florence in order to personally get acquainted with the unique collection of works of art and plunge into the ancient history of the glorious town. The Uffizi Gallery has become a favorite place for tourism over the past few centuries. Just imagine, there are so many people who want to walk through the halls and corridors of the architectural “pearl” that tourists have to spend at least several hours waiting for their turn. And what is to be seen inside is worth such inhuman efforts and sacrifices. After all, a unique world of fine art, a world of sculptures and other masterpieces of brilliant thought opens up before each incoming one.
By the way, among the paintings presented, not all were created by Italian masters. Many paintings have replenished the already considerable collection, arriving in Florence from all over the world as a gift or present. So here you can enjoy the masterpieces of the best masters of all times and peoples.
It will not be superfluous to note that the building itself has the shape of the Latin symbol “U” and is located in the central square of the Signoria case. Every resident of Florence knows the main attraction of the city, so even those who have come to these places for the first time will find the gallery without much difficulty.
Architecture
In addition to the collection of paintings, the architecture itself requires utmost attention. Here you can see hanging gardens, a luxurious theater and unique sculptures. There are also elements of early construction, including the Mint and the Cathedral of St. Pietro Sceragio. Researchers claim that these buildings were created in the 13th century.
It is amazing how the architect Giorgio Vasari was able to foresee long corridors in his creation, the walls of which are so successfully decorated with numerous canvases. Historians who have carefully studied this person know that the genius was an ardent admirer of the fine arts and believed that long corridors and flights of stairs would be an excellent exhibition place for the best creations of the masters of the brush. If only he knew how right he was!
Paintings
The paintings displayed in the Uffizi Gallery are the masterpieces of the great Italian masters of painting of the past. Here, whatever the picture, the famous name of the classic of fine art, from Michelangelo to Caravaggio. Each canvas is a real pearl in the sea of painting.
Michelangelo's painting “The Holy Family” was painted not on canvas, but on wood in 1504 by order of the noble Florentine merchant Doni in honor of his wedding anniversary. Otherwise, it is called “Tondo Doni” (“tondo” in Italian “round”) because of the shape.
The painting expressed the extraordinary talent of the artist in creating complex compositions, in the monumental depiction of a person, when the figures of Mary, Joseph and the little Christ seem not to be painted, but sculpted in volume. The nude figures in the background of the picture look just as plastic: it seems that every muscle, every curve is alive. Juicy, bright shades of tempera have not faded over the centuries, time has no power over them, as well as over the divine gift of a brilliant artist.
If Michelangelo has more sculptures than paintings, then Botticelli is an artist who gave the world a lot of paintings of different genres presented in the Uffizi. One cannot take one's eyes off his masterpiece The Birth of Venus, the embodiment of the artist's talent and unearthly love for the prototype of Venus, Simonetta Vespucci, with whom Sandro was passionately in love.
The first beauty of Florence, tender and charming, the owner of a beautiful figure was the subject of the artist's secret feelings. After her early death, Botticelli resurrected the image of his beloved in a painting depicting the moment Venus came ashore from the divine shell. There is so much chaste beauty, femininity, earthly attraction in the guise of a goddess!
Another painting by Botticelli is also attractive, the plot of which is based on ancient mythology – “Spring”. The romantic myth about the wind Zephyr, who managed to turn the nymph Chloris into the goddess of flowers Flora with his love, underlies the plot.
What happiness for everyone – to see the Raphael Madonnas with babies, personifying the highest degree of motherhood and love. The most talented creator of his era, Raphael, is represented in the Uffizi by the best canvases: “The Sistine Madonna”, “Three Graces”, “St. Sebastian”, “The Veiled Lady”, “Holy Family”, etc.
Here are the famous masterpieces of Titian “The Penitent Magdalene”, “Diana”, “Madonna and Child”, “The Baptism of Christ” and other priceless canvases of the great artist.
True masterpieces are the paintings of Verrocchio's “Baptism of Christ”, the famous Leonardo da Vinci's “Annunciation”, the Umbrian artist Perugino's “Lamentation of Christ”, Piero de Cosimo's “Descent of the Holy Spirit”.
How joyful that in this artistic treasury, among the portraits of the great masters of Europe, there are 4 portraits of Russian painters: Repin, Kustodiev, Bryullov and Kiprensky.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The huge popularity of the museum and the demand for tickets did their job. The Uffizi is ready to receive visitors on any day except Monday. Tourists who go on a date with a piece of art and history in the summer have more chances to get into the halls, since the institution is open until 22:00. The ticket price is approximately 7 euros, but for an additional fee you can avoid a long queue and get inside faster.
Someone calls this approach discrimination and takes offense at the Florentines, while someone sees nothing shameful in taking advantage of such a mutually beneficial offer and speeding up acquaintance with the brilliant creations of various areas of art.
Recommended reading Guide to Florence.
Tips for visitors
The Uffizi Gallery is a sacred place, the repository of the greatest creations of people endowed with a divine gift, and visiting this secret meeting requires certain strict rules that must be observed.
It is forbidden to take photographs and filming inside in order to better preserve the paintings. You can not bring drinks or other liquids with you, come to the halls with backpacks or bulky bags (they will have to be left in the storage room after standing in line).
The gallery is open every day except Monday from 08.30 to 19.00. Given that there are constant long lines (especially at the height of the tourist season), it is worth arriving early so as not to languish in them for more than an hour.
If some dodgy guides offer to go to the gallery bypassing the queue, it is better to ignore it: you will have to wait no less, but more money will be spent. It is possible to get a reservation for a visit via the Internet, then the wait will be reduced to 20 minutes, but you will have to spend an extra 4 euros and not be late for the appointed time.
The queue of visitors with tickets ordered via the Internet moves much faster. The entrance ticket costs 9.1 euros. Birthdays and women on March 8 Day have the right to enter for free.
To ensure convenient viewing, the gallery offers an audio guide service at a cost of 8 euros, taking a deposit in the form of any document: passport, service certificate, driver's license.
It is impossible to see all the masterpieces in one visit, it is best to outline in advance the objects that interest you the most. If you plan a 3-4-hour stay, you can take a break from the tour and relax in the cafe on the 2nd floor.
Where is it located and how to get there
The Uffizi Gallery is located near Piazza della Signoria, between the Palazzo Vecchio and the Arno River.
Address: Piazzale deqli Uffizi, 6. You can reach the gallery on foot in 10 minutes from the railway station of Santa Maria Novella. You need to go to Cathedral Square, then along the street. Calzaioli to the square. Signoria, go to the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) and see the Uffizi building behind it, from visiting which you will have wonderful memories. If you wish, you can take a taxi, but it is better to walk to see the ancient Florentine palaces.
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