Florence Italy only 3.5 hours to vist museum

My Monday recommendations include the Galileo Science Museum and the Palazzo Vecchio. I've seen some lines to buy tickets at Palazzo Vecchio, but I don't believe that either one sells tickets online in advance. The 72 euro Firenze Card would be overkill for this short visit.

Here is link for all major museum tix: http://www.b-ticket.com/b-ticket/uffizi/default.aspx

paul-you may like to check out Casa Buonarroti if you have an interest in Michelangelo. We found it very interesting, and it's small enough, and uncrowded, to get through quickly. Easy walking distance of Laura's suggestions.

I would visit Bargello Museum, no queue and such a beautiful museum. Donatello's David in bronze is marvelous. Do not miss it. (1 hour 1/2)
Then I would go to piazza Della Signoria, sip a coffee and look at Michellangelo's David and other sculpture and at the beautiful palazzo vecchio. (1/2 hour)

Thereafter I would go to Piazza del Duomo and pay particular attention to Ghilberti's doors of the Duomo. It is in bronze and carved with various personnages.

Paul, exactly what is the date of the Monday you'll be in Florence? The Bargello is only open on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month (closed on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays) so that one might not be an option.

Piazza della Signoria is definitely worth some time but the 'David' outside Palazzo Vecchio there is not the original: that one is in the Accademia, and what's in the piazza is a copy. Loggia dei Lanzi - which is right next to Palazzo Vecchio - is a free, open-air collection of sculpture that's also WELL worth the browse.

Just for the sake of everyone visiting this website, Bargello museum IS open on Mondays. Go to the following website to find details and make reservations

http://www.museodelbargello.it/oario-di-apertura-museo-del-bargello.asp

Francoise, I'm not sure that the info in that link is correct? The Polomuseum site (http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/bargello.html) states this:

"Il Museo è chiuso la 2° e 4° domenica di ogni mese e aperto la 1°, 3° e 5°; chiuso 1°, 3° e 5° lunedì di ogni mese, aperto 2° e 4°."

"The Museum is closed on 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month and opened the 1st, 3rd and 5th; closed 1st, 3rd and 5th Monday of each month, opened the 2nd and 4th."

The official ticketing site (B-ticket) states the same:

http://www.b-ticket.com/b-ticket/uffizi/info_venue_bargello.aspx

As do these Florence tourism sites:
http://www.visitflorence.com/florence-museums/bargello.html
http://www.uffizi.org/florence-museums/bargello-museum/

I believe the Convento di San Marco (the museum) is open on Mondays. It is wonderful and a short walk from the Accademia. The frescos are magnificent and interesting to read about the Medicis and Savonarola in the rooms concerning them. Also OrsanMichele the upstairs is only open on Mondays and I enjoyed the statues there. The Medici Chapels are open and you can see Michelangelo's sculptures there.

Just to clarify, the David in Piazza della Signoria is not by Michelangelo, it's a copy.

Just to clarify the polemuseale Website is not uptodate at all als since 31 December 2015, it does not exist any more.
So the opening dates stated by the website www.museodelbargello.it , I mentioned above, should be right. I am going there tomorrow, so I will check.
Cheerio.

The Original David by Michellangelo used to be on piazza Della Signoria but it was damaged and so was restored and put in the Accademia. On the piazza is a beautiful copy of the one in the Accademia. Even if it is a copy, I think it is more interesting to see it in the scenery of the piazza. But that's just MY opinion.

You might also want to consider the Brancacci Chapel and the Santa Croce Church - great art in its original location.

I agree, francoise, it is beautiful to see a work of art in its original location, but your previous reference was not clear that this is a copy.

That's why I mentioned it as well. We chatted with some tourists who went on about seeing 'David' in the piazza - and thought it was the real deal - who were disappointed to be told that it wasn't. It may all depend on how serious about art one might be?

But the copy does provide a picture of what it would have looked like when placed there back in the day!

Just to clarify the polemuseale Website is not uptodate at all als
since 31 December 2015, it does not exist any more.

That's not exactly what the website states. English translation:

"The Museums of Florence website will remain active, in reduced form, to allow access to information and amenities, limited to the time necessary for the activation of new web sites pertaining to individual institutions.

IMPORTANT: The content related to events, exhibitions, press and museums will no longer be updated from the day January 1, 2016"

It's that "reduced form" page I linked, but it's great that you're checking the closing days in person: thank you! As mentioned above, B-ticket has been recognized official ticketing site for quite some time including Rick's own information on Florence museums. He provides a live link on this page:

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/making-museum-reservations-in-florence

Uffizi.com - which is a different ticketing site within the link you provided - also shows only 2nd and 4th Mondays as open on their selection calendar, and 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays closed regardless of the page with the printed days/times.

Thanks, Kathy, that was my point as well, that people may be confused and/ or disappointed.

I teach a course in Christian Art, so I am serious about it. I recently learned how the David and other sculptures in the Accademia were protected during WWII - fascinating solution.

Zoe, I've read " The Monuments Men" but haven't gotten around to ordering a copy of "Saving Italy" yet. That's supposed to be an even better book, and I'm thinking you've probably read it?

I would add that not only is the open air David in the Piazza a copy, it's a bad copy. I was startled at how different - and how much better - the original in the Accademia looked.

Kathy, there are photos in Edsel's first book, Rescuing Da Vinci (I think that's the title).

I did like Saving Italy better, probably my Italian bias.