We'll be arriving in Florence around noon on a Friday and have the remainder of that day and a full day on Saturday (flying out Sunday). Regretting the limited time but that's the way it is! Trying to decide what to get tickets for- I want to leave time to climb the Duomo and just walk around the city and not spend spend the entire time in museums. Realistically, my husband will probably only be up for two art museums (tops) anyway. particularly since I'm already dragging him to the Borghese in Rome. :) Acadamia and Uffizi seem to be the standard two everyone goes to, but I'm concerned how long it takes to get through the Uffizi- a friend's said they spent over four hours there! Is that typical? The Medici chapels also sound cool to me, as do the churches of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella. How to decide?? I'd hate to not get Uffizi tickets and regret it later.
Posted by
roswell, ga, usa
1501 posts
With a short time like you have, I'd skip the Ufuzzi and just do the Academia. In the RS Italy book, you can see the website and get the tickets in advance, which will eliminate the need to stand in line. The Accademia is where the "real David" is now housed, and it shouldn't be missed! As the name implies, it's an old school. There's a great collection of ancient musical instruments as well. Also the unfinished works of Michangelo are there, and you can literally see the "people" stepping out of the marble! He always said, he removed the unnecessary parts and the figure was there. This was the greatest part of this 'museum' for me. I'm no art expert, so expect to perhaps be corrected here. I HAVE however, spent weeks in Florence through the years and have enjoyed it every single time!
In this time period, you will also have time to go to the Santa Croce Church. It's where many of Florence's Most Famous are buried, with the beautiful statuary decorating their graves, and it's quite spectacular. Going to the Ufuzzi in this short time period would be like trying to run trough the Louvre in Paris, and you're better off skipping it entirely IMHO.
Please, please, spend some time in the beautiful Piazzas sipping wine (or whatever you prefer) and seeing the fountains lit, and enjoying this magnificent city. You're better off! You can do the Accademia in an hour and Santa Croce in the same amount of time, see some REALLY great artifacts, and still leave time to ENJOY the city -- which is what it's all about!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11315 posts
Donna's advice is spot on. In a two night/day-and-a-half trip to Florence we were able to do Accademia, Uffizi, Medici Chapels, Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio and other bits and pieces, but I would skip the Accademia given the same opportunity again. 1/2 of it was closed for renovation as it was, and it felt like a "should do" rather then a thrill. (Compared to the Borghese which I have visited 3 times and would go again!)
I very much liked the Medici Chapels and the Palazzo Vecchio. Spend some time in the Loggia in Piazza della Signoria with its magnificent and original statues by Giambologna. I liked it best at night.
Posted by
Firenze
500 posts
I have a somewhat different feeling - if you have time for a single museum in Florence it could be Uffizi (that is where most of the top works are). But if Uffizi are too much for you, you could consider the the underrated Galleria Palatina at Palazzo Pitti, that is a top museum as well - but while most museums worldwide are expositions of works correctly ordered by authors and schools, the Galleria Palatina is an old style "quadreria": works are exposed without a clear order (it is just the way that Granduke Pietro Leopoldo liked most), housed in the most magnificent rooms of a former royal palace to impress the visitor.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
13934 posts
I vote for Accademia over Uffizi. It's smaller and easier to find your way around and to me David and the sculptures leading to him are amazing.
Your Duomo ticket will also get you in to the Baptistry which has a stunning ceiling. I went there on the recommendation of my BOE guide and loved it. It also is small and easily done in under 1/2 an hour if church/museum fatigue is setting in.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Convince your hubby of the difference between churches and museums.
Donna is right about Michelangelo and the Accademia. There are some beautiful paintings upstairs. On the same street, Via Ricasoli, is the small San Marco museum. It was a Dominican convent, and in each of the friars' cells (rooms) there is a wall psinting by Fra Angelico. Those would be my two museum choices. Santa Maria Novella has lots of important artwork and some beautiful cloisters.
If you want a shorter line, climb the bell tower instead of the Duomo. That way you can see the dome exterior much closer than you can from the ground - and you can't see it at all if you are inside it.
You don't mention going to Venice, but the elevator to the bell tower roof has great views of the lagoon and islands there.