Hi everyone,
My friend and I will be traveling to Italy in September and one of our stops is Florence. I don't think we'll have time to do all of these on this trip, but can those of you who have been, rate the Accademia, Uffizi Gallery, Duomo Museum, and Pitti Palace from favorite to least favorite? I think we'll have a day and a half, maybe two days in Florence but my friend will want to do some shopping too. Thanks in advance for your help.
Cara
Uffizi, Accademia, Duomo Museum, Pitti Palace.
There are a lot of amazing churches. Santa Croce is my favorite. Don't skip the Duomo baptistry. The Duomo is skippable.
You could have a look at the AT A GLANCE section here to see what appeals to you.
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/florence
I went to Florence on a cruise excursion and only spent a few hours there.
The only place that I can rate is the Uffizi Gallery which is exceptional. If possible, you should allow a half day there minimum.
For shopping, we were taken to:
https://www.goldmarketflorence.com.
Very fine Florentine jewelry with. leather goods store attached.
The Gold Market is also in an interesting square to people watch, relax, have coffee and eat gelato.
You already put them in order. That is, unless lots of paintings is your preference, then swap the Accademia and the Uffizi. The Accademia is more than just David, though. There is more sculpture, some fantastic paintings, and an old musical instruments exhibit that should be seen while you’re there.
Even if you don’t go inside the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens outside of the palace are wonderful in September, if you have a spare hour or so.
Hi!
I’ll echo jules m and agree with that ranking. It’s a sound measurement of how unique/special/mind blowing each collection of art is. That said - OMG THIS IS FLORENCE. The whole place is mind-blowing and head-turning.
I almost hesitate to throw this out there, then, but I might just be tempted to replace the Pitti Palace with the Museo de Storie Naturale.
My extended family and I visited a few years ago and were blown away.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museo_di_Storia_Naturale_di_Firenze
It’s a natural history museum, with gorgeous collections of specimens (from insects to plant life to mammals and reptiles and human skeletal remains, plus minerals, planetary stuff - it’s a LOT) and… a jaw-dropping collection of 18th century wax anatomical preparations in the Zoologia "La Specola” collection. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/la-specola
None of us had ever seen anything like it before. We were, in a word, gobsmacked.
If you have time, I would check it out. It’s cray-mazing.
Uffizi, Accademia, and sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo for a view over Florence that you will never forget!
If you have time, the Bargello (Donatello's Bronze David), and if you have interest in science, the Galileo Museum is amazing.
Have a wonderful trip!
You could have a look at the AT A GLANCE section here to see what appeals to you.
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/florence
Did you get the book?
This list is in the book also.
Firenze isn't that big of a town, there's the biggie sites and then there's everything else. Dont' over complicate your trip.
My favorite, don’t miss place, is the Academia where you can see the awesome, original “David.”
Yes, I have the guide book.
I absolutely agree with Rail_fan, Piazza Michelangelo at dusk at sunset is an absolute must. You can go even higher and sit on the stairs at Basilica di San Miniato. Pop into the abbey for the frescoes or to hear the chanting.
The Pitti Palace deserves a few days but it not a reasonable choice for only a day and a half. I would do Academia for David, the Uffizi, and San Marco (which is only open in the morning but a quite singular and lovely experience). I like to vary sites I visit especially for a short visit. And so many churches. I'd do at least Santa Croce. With only a day and a half in Florence I would not waste time shopping.
I think we'll have a day and a half, maybe two days in Florence...
Exactly which days those are could make a difference as the Italian State Museums, which include all but the Duomo Museum, are closed on Mondays. I guess I would also ask how interested the both of you really are in art? There's no shame in skipping the Uffizi and Accademia if paintings and sculpture are not really your cuppa tea.
I lost my mind over the art in Florence but that's me. Sometimes it's easier for people who think they'd be bored or overwhelmed with rooms and rooms of the stuff to start with smaller bites, such as lovely Museo San Marco and some of the wonderful Florentine churches, than the heavy feast that's the Uffizi.
That said, I'd put the Pitti last on your list of 4, definitely include Piazzale Michelangelo, and maybe save the shopping for a different destination where you (hopefully?) have more time? Or maybe split up and you sightsee while the friend hits the shops? :O)
Accademia, Uffizi Gallery, Duomo Museum, and Pitti Palace
Giotto's Tower (not on your list), Accademia, Uffizi, then neither Duomo Museum or Pitti Palace have been on my list.
But I do very much enjoy Santa Croce, and perhaps most of all finding Donatello's David out by itself.
Check out today’s video by Youtuber ROMEWISE
My first priority in a return trip to Florence would be Donatello's David. I am so happy that others upthread love it too.
I visited all on your list except for the Pitti Palace and think your order makes sense. But my favorite in Florence is the Museum of San Marco (Dominican convent of St. Mark) and the art of Fra Angelico. It was amazingly uncrowded and a joy to explore and experience.
Isn't Donatello's David in the Bargello? Also a wonderful museum but in a day and a half a bridge too far unless that is the priority. The Mary Magdellan by Donatello in the Opera of the Duomo is IMHO one of the most moving of all sculptures -- I'd put that ahead of the Donatello David. But again -- in a short visit you have to limit what you see to get anything out of it.
We spent 6 wonderful days in Florence in early November. Lots of museums and churches of course. Make time to just walk around and even get lost! Did you know that Gelato was invented there? Enjoy:)
Consider the following (We did not visit here on our recent trip)
The Vasari Corridor....
The following is an excerpt from The Florentine which has a weekly email newsletter and a paid monthly paid magazine.
Designed by Giorgio Vasari to allow the Grand Dukes to move safely from their private residence in Palazzo Pitti to the seat of government in Palazzo Vecchio, this overhead walkway remains unique and was built according to the wishes of Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1565 on the occasion of his son Francesco’s marriage to Joanna of Austria. The total route is about 750 metres, starting from the Uffizi up to the exit next to the Buontalenti Grotto in the Boboli Gardens. The corridor runs above the city streets, along and over the Arno, enters buildings, goes around the Torre de’ Mannelli and tops the Church of Santa Felicita, in a succession of unusual panoramic views.
The Vasari Corridor reopens on December 21, 2024
Hi, another idea is to look up blogs of others who have visited Florence. I post on Wordpress, and follow others who also post. Good luck.
The Vasari corridor is one of those things I have long wanted to do and it has always been closed in the decades I hve visited Florence. But again in a very short visit? The corridor is interesting BUT it now is bare walled. It once held Medici portraits -- those are now in galleries in the basement of the Uffizi -- so the corridor will be a long stroll through hallways with bare walls. Not in my top 3 or 4 for a short trip to Florence.
