I messed up big time. I accidentally booked tickets for both Uffizi & Accademia for the 8:15 am slot on Oct 21. I
I know that I can not get a refund or a change for these timed tickets. I plan to arrive at the Accademia on time at 8:15, and then arrive 2 hours late at the Uffizi. I heard that we would not have to forfeit the ticket but just pay a late fee. Can anyone confirm this is still true?
Additionally, if I showed up to the Uffizi at 10 am around this time in October, will I have problems with the lines to get into the museum(since I am assuming I will no longer be in the timed ticket line showing up late) and crowds inside?
Posted by
Massachusetts
1535 posts
This is what the FAQ section of the Uffizi website says:
https://www.uffizi.it/en/pages/faq
Can I change my booking? What happens if I'm late?
Changes to bookings are not allowed. If you are late, you will still be able to collect your ticket, but priority admission is not guaranteed.
Posted by
9364 posts
Last time we visited Academia (around 1990) we booked a specific time and arrived a bit early, but we still had to wait 30-40 minutes to enter the museum.
Posted by
Brooklyn, NY
4793 posts
It’s a crap shoot. August 2024 we arrived 2 hours early for our Academia time slot. There was no line so they let us in. We walked past it a few times and never saw a long line.
For me, I would go to the Uffizi first because you are probably going to spend a longer bulk of time there. We only stayed at the Academia for about 30 minutes. We saw the sculptures in the corridor leading to David, spent the bulk of time admiring and examining him, then walked through the music exhibit pretty quickly.
I believe, and maybe others would agree, that most people see the David then leave.
Does the Academia website say anything about missing your time slot like the Uffizi?
Posted by
Surrey, UK
625 posts
And don't forget, there is a full sized replica of David in the plaza, allegedly made as they couldn't decide who should have the original!
Posted by
OP
2 posts
I could not find any information on the Accademia website about arriving late.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
17644 posts
A little background on "David":
The original was intended for a lofty perch on the roof of the Duomo, thus some proportions that look a bit off from where it stands, lower to the ground, in the Accademia. Michelangelo also wasn't the first to have a go at that particular block of marble.
The replica in Piazza della Signoria is where the original stood for over 350 years when they couldn't figure out how to safely lift its weight up to the intended spot. It was moved into the Accademia and out of damaging elements for preservation in 1873, and replaced it with a copy in 1910. IMHO? The original will make a much bigger impression for the dramatic apse positioning and lighting and, well, it's the one from the artist's own hand, right?
How it looks in the Accademia....
https://www.contexttravel.com/stories/articles/ten-facts-about-the-statue-of-david
....versus the weather-stained copy in the piazza
https://www.alamy.com/copy-of-the-michelangelos-statue-of-david-in-the-piazza-della-signoria-florence-italy-image327580046.html
I'd go the Uffizi first, for good reasons given above, and try to do the Accademia later in the day.