Uffizi or Accademia

Both have must sees in them. Accademia can be done quicker as it's quite a bit smaller. Uffizi is pretty big and can take awhile unless you just want to see a few things.

Basically, folks go to the Accademia to see Michelangelo's David. This could be a ten-minute event. The Uffizi is very enjoyable if you can be targeted about what you see. So, I guess I am doing a poor job of answering your question since I am suggesting that you reconsider and see both. To me, both are must-sees. Download Rick's audio tour or get his Florence/Tuscany book, and really narrow down to meet your needs. I was in awe standing under David, and The Birth of Venus and Primavera by Botticelli at the Uffizi are absolutely beautiful. In Siena, try and get a tour that delves into the Palio and the districts (fascinating!). If you are into him, the Galileo Museum was nice.

Both must see.
Accademia is quick if you limit yourself to the David and a couple of unfinished Pieta' by Michelangelo. You can be out in minutes. Uffizi is bigger, but I never stay in a museum over 2 hours, often much less, no matter how big. I just focus on the top artworks (generally the most famous), because after a while they all look the same. How many portrait can you see before you get totally bored? This is a list of the must see Halls of the Uffizi Gallery: http://www.uffizi.org/halls/

If hubby really is museumed out, skip the Ufuzzi completely and spend a little more time in the Accademia. They also have antique musical instruments on the first floor that are very interesting and not the usual portraits in the big ones. There's lots to do in Florence -- make sure you go to the Piazzas at night and wander around and just drink in the beauty and atmosphere that is Florence! I've been to Florence a number of times, and I get "art overload,"
especially if I've been in Rome first. Go to Santa Croce church, and if your husband is interested in fine leather-works, they have a beautiful and small tour of the adjacent leather shop. Eat a good Florentine Bisteca (steak) and enjoy some nice red wine with it.

I enjoyed both, but my biggest "Wow!" moment between the two was making the final turn into the Accademia and seeing David for the first time down at the other end of the hall. Took my breath away.

I could spend the whole time just walking around Florence looks at the sites. The Central Market is amazing and walking across the Arno. There is also a spot up on the hills that has wonderful views of all of Florence.
There are "hundreds" of great Gelato stops too......:)

I can't imagine skipping the Uffizi, but since you ask about other museums that may be unique: Convent of San Marco is a friary with the world's best collection of the works of Fra Angelico; if you're not familiar with his work, think gentle, colorful early Renaissance images and Christmas card angels Palazzo Davanzati is the home of a successful late medieval merchant; an interesting peak into daily life Opificio delle Pietre Dura has a collection of the amazing Florentine hard stone mosaic work, along with Renaissance tools from Medici workshops for doing this mosaic and inlay work Bargello is a historically interesting building with a great collection of sculpture the church of San Miniato al Monte (above P Michelangelo) is stunning, and the view at sunset is spectacular; if your husband enjoys walking, you might want to walk up there or back I really love the cloister of Santa Maria Novella (entrance to the right of the church; shorter days/hours than the church); quiet and lovely

The Bargello Museum has wonderful sculpture in an old, old building. The Duomo Museum (Museo dell' Opera...) has sculpture from more periods and some other art as well. The Pitti Palace is several art museums in a lovely palace. The Medici Chapels have 2 main parts, the Sacristy, designed and mostly sculpted by Michelangelo, and the Chapel of Princes, a grandiose self-tribute to the REnaissance grand dukes who ruled Florence. The Medici Chapels are usually crowded because they are small. The others aren't. Any would be a good choice, depending on your interests. I am a museum-worm. It's okay not to be (though personally, I can't grasp the concept :-) and as others have mentioned, there's lots to see and do in Florence without going into any of the museums. Go shopping for superb fleece or wool lined leather gloves for the winter, there are great buys in the street market. I bought one pair at a ritzy shop and another for less than 1/2 the price in the market. Both are excellent. Leather handbags, belts, trendy clothes. . . After that, Hubby may be grateful to spend a few hours in a museum, where you won't be spending money.

The Accademia also has a good collection of medieval and renaissance paintings upstairs; you might consider this instead of the Uffizi. I also think the Museum of San Marco is worth a visit to see the frescoes in each friar's cell as well as the ones in the common areas. The museum of San Marco is on the same sreet as the Accademia, up just a couple of blocks.

Shelley:
I agree, that both museums should not be missed. My husband does not have the same attention span for art in museums that I do, this is what he likes to do-looks at the major works in a room, then finds the nearest bench to " rest his eyes". Yes my husband can sleep anywhere-concerts, ballets, and " boring museums too!

Holly
We have 2 husbands that love benches. Mine does not sleep but loves to people watch. I suspect I will be doing at least one museum on my own. Thank you for the chuckle.

The Florence Institute of Design International is located in a historic old palazzo right there in central Florence, with classes in furniture design, all presented in English. Maybe your guys would actually like to design some benches? You never know. See: www.florence-institute.com.

Go to both. The academia takes very little time to get through. The big wow is the David statue. The uffizi actually has alot more art that will blow you away. So see both but save more time for the Uffizi. Get reservations to save time.

If Renaissance art does not interest you or your husband, don't feel compelled to go to either the Uffizi or the Accademia. As others have correctly said, there's plenty of other great ways to spend time in Florence. On the other hand, if it does interest you, you'll want to see them both. So you may want to split up for a day, and you see the museums while your husband sees something else (perhaps you do one museum in the morning, meet you husband for lunch in the middle of the day, then see the other museum).

Personally, both for me, how often are you going to "stop by" Florence to check out the must sees in the area? If museums don't make the must sees list for your husband and you have to settle on one, I'd go with Academia. It's a pretty short visit (maybe a half hour or so) to see David and a few other works in the immediate area. Get reservations to keep your time in line to a minimum (another reason people get "museumed out"). Uffizi is a great museum but will take at least a half day to get through - even with reservations that allow you to skip the entry line.