Italian art up to the 17th century including works by Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Piero della Francesca, and Raphael. The building was designed in 1559 by Vasari as the administrative offices ("uffizi") of the Medici duke, Cosimo I. Later, the Medicis used the building to house their art collection.

Allow about two hours, at least. Cameras without flash are permitted. There is a snackbar. There is a card and book shop and a bathroom near the exit. A helpful book that I have since discovered is Rick Steves's Mona Winks, a summary and explanation of a few major art works in major European museums. It's not a reference volume for art scholars, but helpful for the casual museum-goer. Another suggestion is to consult link

Five minutes into my first visit I decided that the Uffizi was the most user-unfriendly museum I had ever been in. When you enter you must climb up several very long flights of stairs, between 75-80 steps in all, 4 flights. (Many historic buildings in Florence don't have elevators). I later heard that the Uffizi does have an elevator, but I never saw it.

I had done some reading, I am usually an avid museum-goer, and I was prepared to be thrilled. However, it was especially hard for me to appreciate the art in rooms that were crowded, dimly lit, and too warm. We were there less than 1-1/2 hours and we couldn't wait to leave. The entire colletction is on the one floor, displayed chronologically. We did have a thrill in the Botticelli room with the "Birth of Venus" and "Spring", and I especially liked one round Michelangelo painting of the "holy family." To have nothing else to say about this famous gallery which contains so many art treasures seems very uncouth, but I was glad when it was over.

website for buying advance tickets to museums in Florence: link Or call 055-294-883. At the museum, walk past the long line to the special entrance for those with reservations, give your name and number, pay (cash only), and walk right in. It has been recommended that you call before 8:30 am EST to reach an English-speaking agent.

But you can’t stay here forever, so we continue and there is so much more to see. Leonardo Da Vinci paintings are followed by Perugino and Durer, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian’s "Venus of Urbino". Even though most guide books tell you that Rubens and Van Dyck rooms are closed, I managed to get in and see the most amazing battle paintings by Rubens. Each takes up a whole wall. I never knew that Rubens painted such large scenes. In the following rooms there is the famous Caravaggio’s "Bacchus", and several Rembrandt and Goya paintings.

When I was finished with the collection, I walked from one statue to another along the building. You can see here statues of the most famous writers, philosophers, and painters of the 16th century. And right next to them, modern painters are trying to sell their art and souvenirs.

Today the Uffizi is home to some of the greatest works of Renaissance art in the world. The paintings are displayed in chronological order in a horseshoe shaped progression of rooms that surround the main inner corridor, which houses dozens of Ancient Greek and Roman sculptures.

The chronological arrangement serves the visitor well. It's interesting to observe the progression of Florentine art: improvements in executing perspective, new pigments, the introduction of landscapes and gradual improvements in painting them, and so on.

While I love art, I can't say the Uffizi was my favorite art museum experience. I enjoyed seeing the two Botticellis (Birth of Venus and Primavera), but to be truthful, I eventually became a little bored with the relentless religious theme. It even turned into an inside joke with my girlfriend: "If I see one more painting called Madonna con Bambino I'm gonna throw up!" Besides the Botticellis, I enjoyed some of the later paintings in the collection (Peter Paul Rubens, Van Dyck, Caravaggio) and Rembrandt the most.

Unfortunately for us, the two pieces attributed to the young Leonardo da Vinci, The Annunciation (1472-1475) and the unfinished Adoration of the Magi (1481) are currently undergoing restoration and are not on display.

I'm glad I saw the Uffizi, and if you go to Florence you should definitely see it as well. But as for me personally, I'll take The Met or The MoMA in New York or the Art Institute of Chicago any time.

We were in Florence post September 11 and bought our tickets to the Uffizi and the Galleria dell'Accademia in advance over the web in anticipation of long lines, but they never materialized at either venue. We were given a confirmation number via email, and then presented it at the ticket window. A moderate service fee is charged, but the service worked very well. You can get advanced tickets to many of the museums in Florence here. The Uffizi is closed on Mondays.

This information came from Rick Steves and his European travels on PBS television. He has various publications that give this information, but you can also get it from your hotels I'm sure. We did not know this until we came home, after missing this tour. If you do this, then that gives you more time to visit the other fabulous historical buildings in Florence.