Has anyone called for tix for Uffizi or 'Accademia in Florence recently?

If they are staying in a hotel/B&B you could also try asking the hotel to make the reservations for you.

I dialed the number you show on February 16, 2010 and had no problem getting through at all. I very quickly got an English operator and made reservations in under 5 minutes.

Hello, I purchaced our tickets at Uffizi.com they have a combo ticket for the Accademia and Uffizi.

Thanks for the replies re: online booking.
I advised her to book online initially, but apparently if you book via phone you don't have to pay anything right now. She is concerned about their plans changing ever so slightly once they get over there, and wanted to have the opportunity to change the booking. Supposedly when you book online you are locked in. RS recommends calling...

Susan - good to know someone reached an English speaker a month ago. Maybe she is just out sick this week! :)

I haven't called recently but did last summer for a July trip to Italy. Made reservations for both of these museums calling the phone # listed in the R.S. 2009 Florence/Tuscany bk. Someone answered right away and I was put on hold for only a few minutes. Was able to speak to an English operator. Is your mom taking into account the time difference when she calls? From where I live there is a 7 hour time diff. and NC being on Eastern time would only have a 6 hour diff. I think when I called over there for tkts it was 2 a.m. Central time which would have been 9 a.m. in Italy. I am sure the tkt office is NOT open 24 hrs. for calls.

Yes, she is well aware of the time difference. She called around 8am/9am EST and again around 12pm EST. (the RS 2010 book recommends calling at these times, specifically). As I said, someone IS answering the phone. They are clearly "open for business" during those times.

I just purchased my tickers through www.b-tickets.com, no problem, I had the reservation within 48 hours.
Good luck

Angela, please also let your parents know about the free Culture Week in Italy (April 16-25) when the state museums are free. The 2 you're looking at in Florence are included, although the reservation fee is still required.

When I looked at booking tickets online, the sites weren't reflecting free tickets during this time, but the operator at the museum reservation line confirmed the free entry. The reservation fee can be paid when picking up the tickets if reserved over the phone.

Website about culture week is frustratingly only in Italian: www.beniculturali.it

Google translates the site into english fairly accurately. I was Italy during the fall culture week last year and found no significant lines. I think the two culture weeks are aimed at bringing in more tourists during the slower seasons. I wouldn't bother with a reservation if it costs anything.

We found it very easy just to stop by earlier in the morning, buying tickets for a time of our choosing, go off and see the town, coming back for our entry. No hassles with phones, carrying a confirmation, etc.