In ancient times, to know the time, people used the sundial, a measurement tool based on the…read moredetection of the position of the sun. Sundials had a gnomon, the bar whose shadow marked the time on the dial. Standing outside the Museo Galileo near the Uffizi Gallery at the Palazzo Castellani in Florence, my partner, our friends, family member, and I stumbled on the Monumental Sundial on our way to find an establishment for lunch in September. Originally built in 2007, a tall bronze obelisk constitutes the gnomon of a modern sundial, which casts its shadow on the lines of travertine marble and brass flanked by the signs of the zodiac in glass and marble placed on the ground, indicating time and date. It was visually stunning.

Florence is like the birthplace of STEM, so when visiting here, going to the Galileo Museum is a…read moreMUST! Learning of not only Galileo, but his followers who came after him and the benefactors - the Medici family, was inspirational. It made me realize how bravery is foundational to how science evolves a society, and how essential loyal benefactors are to helping with the change. Truly amazing.

The Accademia Gallery in Florence offers a focused, more intimate, and ultimately defined by a…read moresingle, overwhelming masterpiece, Michelangelo's David. Founded in the late 18th century as a teaching collection, it evolved into one of Italy's most important art institutions You slowly move through the gallery of Renaissance paintings and plaster models. You curiosity begins to build as you anticipate viewing this famous David. Quite impressive...the statue's size, precision details, and sculpture expertise lives you in awe. The Accademia's smaller size allows for a more intimate experience. It highlights Michelangelo's works as well as adding meaningful context.

You cannot visit Florence without visiting Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's David…read more Though I had a tour guide, I felt like the pace was too slow. It's a great museum, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather beat the crowds to see David, and then take my time strolling through all the other works of art. Seeing 17' of David in person is unreal-- a human made this out of rejected marble. The magnitude of David's height and attention to detail is incredible and the lighting under a skylight highlights every vein and definition of muscle even more so. If you're looking for a deep dive art history lesson, I'd recommend using AI. Note: try to book skip-the-line tickets in advance. If you're unable to, you can try to book through a third party booking system such as Viator, but you'll be paying more.

Perfectly fine outdoor seating area to grab a light lunch and look out over the Piazza Della…read moreSignoria. The people watching is the best!

The museum is to die for. The exclusive store was very nice. This was part of my Birthday…read morecelebration and it really did not disappoint! We stopped at the cafe as we were leaving for a nice drink. If you love Gucci, you need to see it!

25th Wedding Anniversary trip alert (European vacation)…read more.. The Uffizi Gallery is housed in a long, elegant structure designed in the 16th century by Giorgio Vasari for the powerful Medici family, the gallery retains an air of purpose and grandeur, its corridors opening toward views of the Arno River and the city's historic skyline. The Uffizi collection is widely considered one of the finest in the world, particularly for Italian Renaissance painting, and includes works by masters such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Iconic paintings like Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera feel both familiar and astonishing when encountered in person. Their scale are beyond belief. The depth and breadth of the gallery is a bit overwhelming, with dozens of rooms and hundreds of masterpieces, creating moments where wonderment converges with a bit of tiredness. What lingers most is the sense of continuity: the Medici legacy encapsulated every wall, and the feeling that one is walking through the very cradle of Renaissance thought. The building itself is stunning...frescoed ceilings, eye-catching statues, and glimpses toward Florence's landmarks. Uffizi Gallery reinforces the idea that art, history, and city are intricately connected. Prepare to take adequate time to view the exhibits

November 6, 2024 3:45-6:45PM…read more We initially didn't plan to visit but was told this is a must do in Florence. I'm glad we did. I love art museums and thought this was more religious artifacts but glad to see some of my new favorite paintings in person. Silly me! Upon entering the museum, there a lot of stairs to climb. Get your exercise in for sure! I did see a very tiny elevator a little bit hidden to the side, so they definitely can accommodate those needing accessibility but plan accordingly as the elevator was tiny, probably one stroller/wheelchair at a time. The Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Spring are both so amazing to see in person. The works of Caravaggio were very powerfully presented. The da Vinci, the Michelangelo, the Raphael... so many great artist and their works are housed here. Lots of Sweet Baby Jesus and the Madonna, various Adam and Eve paintings.. My favorite besides Botticelli's, was from Pietro Perugino's a Portrait of a young man.. the eyes, the emotions, almost the sadness... what a great painting. The various views from the Uffizi Galleries of Florence was also pretty amazing, from Ponte Vecchio, along the Arno River and the view of the city... so glad we went during sunset as I caught some pretty great shots with just my iPhone. I definitely think this is worth the stop and glad to have this as an impromptu visit. Got in pretty quickly without a reservation either, we were very lucky.

From the Middle Ages to the present day, Piazza della Signoria, between Piazza del Duomo and the…read moreArno River, is the beating heart of the historic center of Florence with its distinctive L-shape, which my partner, our friends, family member, and I visited in mid-September. Palazzo Vecchio, the traditional seat of the Florentine government, with its distinctive tower, is yet another symbol of the city. In front stands a copy of Michelangelo's David (the original can be seen at the Accademia Gallery). One of the most impressive squares we've ever seen! The piazza looks like an outdoor museum, full of iconic statues and history in every corner. One can't miss the Fountain of Neptune that was commissioned to celebrate a Medici marriage. It is a colossal statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea and the counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon. The atmosphere is vibrant and lively with both tourists and locals, perfect to enjoy both during the day and at night. Definitely a must-see in Florence!

Nice gathering place next to Ponte Vecchio. There's a beautiful fountain here and plenty of places…read moreto gather and dine. I love these Italian palazzos!

November 9, 2024 1:30PM…read more What a beautiful church. This wasn't on our must see list while in Florence but so glad we made a pit stop here while looking for the leather school. Very short line to get in, I believe it was about 8 euros per person for a visit. We ended up spending about an hour ish browsing around. There were a lot of famous folks buried here... Right before our honeymoon we had lost my beloved kitty on the operating table for a dental procedure, she was 3.5 yo... on the same day we lost my mother in law to her battle with MS. It had been a rough couple of weeks before our trip. For some reason while sitting in this church I had an overwhelming feeling of sadness and relief at the same time. Which made this place so memorable for me. Known as the "Pantheon of Florence," it's the largest Franciscan church and serves as the burial site for famous Italians like Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Its history involves significant artistic decoration, including Giotto's frescoes, and later additions like the Neo-Gothic facade. Such a beautiful historic site with so much to look at. Definitely recommend to check them out if you ever visit Florence.

Located about 2,600 feet southeast of the Duomo, my partner, our friends, family members, and I…read morearrived at the Piazza di Santa Croce and the Basilica of Santa Croce (Italian for Basilica of the Holy Cross) St. Francis visited Florence at the beginning of the 13th century, and a few years later some friars of his congregation decided to stop in the city and build a church with a convent and an adjacent library. Thus was born this church. Today Santa Croce is a museum complex that brings together the Basilica, the chapels, the monastery, the bell tower, and the part dedicated exclusively to exhibitions, such as the former refectory, where we came last Tuesday. The €10 entry fee was well worth it. One has to wear appropriate outfits to gain entry. Basically, just make sure one has long shorts below the knees and arms are covered. Once inside this ornate Florentine gothic style, our attention is immediately drawn to the east end, where the tall narrow stained glass windows pierce the walls. The center nave is wide and well-lit. What is significant about Santa Croce is it became the resting place of so many great Italians, such as the great historian and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, sculptor and painter Michelangelo Buonarroti, astronomer Galileo Galilei, and composer Gioachino Rossini. There were probably more than a thousand art pieces on display here, including works of Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Giotto. One can easily spend half a day here--there is that much to see and explore!

Buy your ticket online, it's cheaper. The museum was a nice fun walk through, very informative on…read moreDa Vinci's creations and inspirations. A lot of interactive exhibits too, good for kids and adults. Took about 30-45 min to walk through completely. Not too crowded of a place too which was nice.

I liked it but I wouldn't say it's something I'd recommend because it's pretty small and crowded. I…read moredoubt there's a "good" time to go but who knows. It was something to kill time and I did learn something so I gave 3 stars. However, I've been to many museums and this one didn't really strike it for me. The place does have a few interesting props so definitely check it out if you're bored and have kids. I went with my boyfriend and he wasn't into it.

This is one of the few places open on Mondays and we were pleasantly surprised that it was not at…read moreall crowded despite limited options available on Mondays to all of us tourists....you can also use the FirenzeCard here. We were really impressed with the wide range of sculptures, ceramics, paintings and architecture here. This is another place where it's important to look up to appreciate the ceilings in addition to the art on display in each room. Definitely don't miss this museum if you're visiting Florence!

Bargello was a government office in the 1200s, then a prison where they executed people. Around the…read more1800s all of this was abolished, and the building was restored to its original likeness. The most famous piece here is Donatello's DAVID from 1440. Down the street is Michelangelo's DAVID, two very different works of art depicting the same event, the defeat of goliath. Donatello's statue is small, and depicts David as a young boy as opposed to a muscular man. His bronze piece predates Michelangelo's sculpture by 65 years. The entire Donatello room is special. Must visit if you're an art enthusiast.

This is a beautiful display of art. It's free for the public. I highly recommend it…read more Is easy to get to it.

We really liked this museum. It's kind of a palate cleanser from all the older, historical, things…read moreto see in this city. And to be quite honest, what first drove us in was the fact that the sun was blazing the day we visited. It was so hot out and we were so tired, we needed a place to cool down and get some rest. The entry hall here is lined with benches that you can sit at without buying a ticket. Sure, we did have quite a few panhandlers approach us while we sat there determining how long we wanted to be here and if we wanted to go inside but for the most part, it's dark, cool and quiet. There's a courtyard space where the art flows out to and it's a nice place to people watch as well as check out the more modern art.

I've lived in Florence for two years and never once heard about this place! During our stay in…read moreFlorence last week, one of my old friends recommended that we check it out. My husband, who is a science/zoology buff was floored by how much interesting stuff was in the relatively small space. There are about ten different rooms that are filled with fossils, specimen, and taxidermied animals. Some of the rooms were a bit boring, but the finals rooms totally make up for it. The end of the museum is comprised of wax anatomical models from the 1700's that were used by medical students studying surgery and basic anatomy. It was truly incredible to see these beautiful wax figures with their guts spilling out. It truly was a sight to see!! They also have a beautiful observatory room with a giant telescope, but you have to make an appointment to see it. We were so amazed by all of the wonders in the museum. There is a also a beautiful garden in the back that's nice to check out when it's open. It's a great stop for people with children, or for people looking to take a break from art museums.

Fell in love with this place. Family members who had been before raved about it so I was eager to…read morecheck it out and it was cooler than I even expected. Room after room of fossils, animals, minerals and exotic plants acquired by several generations of the Medici. Located right near the Pitti Palace, it was weird to me how few people were there. Fine with me! I got to look at everything and take plenty of pictures. The anatomical wax models were so cool...used to teach medical students. A really great rainy day stop.