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.

Masterpiece architectural place to visit. Inside is huge and spacious with multiple statues,…read moresculptures, paintings, and the famous door. Definitely worth visiting while you are in Florence! : )

We were on a Tauck tour of Florence and got a private tour of this Museum last night. It was…read morefabulous. Very modern facility, bright and airy with beautiful sculptures and exhibits.

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.

As a general rule, I don't do a lot of touristy things when I'm traveling. In my older age, and…read moreinfinite wisdom, I've learned that I don't need to go into all the old churches in Europe (especially if there's a line). I'll be happier sipping wine in the sunshine outside a cafe. Having said that, I still highly recommend the Boboli Gardens. My friends all wanted to go and it was a winner that I'm glad they dragged me along to visit. The grounds are gorgeous, and Florence is oddly devoid of anything green, so it's a breath of fresh air (literally) to wander around, walk up the Bowling Green, and gawk at the flowers, the trees, and one of the biggest and best stone heads I've ever seen. As a bonus, after touring the gardens we were somehow able to bypass the lines to get into the Pitti Palace, and skipping lines is my favorite. Also, the palace is just room after room of incredible paintings, gorgeous ceilings, and (my wife's favorite) some of the most intricately beautiful tables you've ever seen.

We visited the Boboli Gardens and the Palazzo Pitti on our first afternoon in Florence, and what…read morewith the Duomo views and the Medici glamor, it was a nice introduction to the city. The palace was originally commissioned in 1458 by a Florentine banker named Pitti. The Medicis picked it up in 1549, and it remained a ruling class residence until 1919, when it was gifted to the nation and turned into a museum. It's a giant place, literally palatial, with a kind of forbidding, fortress-like aesthetic. Seems like a weird place to live, but what do I know. We walked in on a Wednesday afternoon, and neither the gardens nor the museum were crowded. We started with the Boboli Gardens, which were quite attractive, even in mid-November with nothing in bloom. It felt like a large, inclined park, pleasant to walk, with impressive fountains and tremendous views. There was an empty amphitheater and an ancient Egyptian obelisk. Tons of old statues, including a fenced-off 17th century work called "The Abundance," where we saw a weird lady sneak in to molest the base. We wandered up the garden's main axis and reached the Giardino del Cavaliere, an intricately landscaped walled garden with truly fantastic views. We spent about an hour in the gardens and another hour in the Palatine Gallery, Palazzo Pitti's primary museum space. The gallery contains over 500 paintings, most of them from the Renaissance, a collection that once belonged to the Medicis and their successors. I'm sure we would've gotten more out of the visit had we taken a guided tour, but we did pretty well walking through those endless rooms on our own. We had a good time at the Palazzo Pitti and would recommend it to anyone visiting Florence. Less mandatory than the Uffizi or the Accademia, but a great place to absorb the lavish splendor of the Medicis.

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!

The Uffizi of sculpture…read more While many visitors flock to Michelangelo's David, we loved Donatello's jauntier version.

I agree with Beatrice above me, I went to SACI for a term while abroad and was promised a…read moreprofessional art school. Unfortunately, most students there merely took art as an elective a few times- with some exceptions. The teachers WERE great but the amount you paid vs what you got was not worth it. Not to mention since there was no food meal plan- and you're in a VERY expensive city- the amount they told you you would need for food everyday wasn't even close. The studio closes at like 7 I believe- so if you thought maybe you could work there on your art despite the fact that they gave you your own studio space in some classes- nope. Lorenzo is awesome though. If all classes were like his I wouldn't even complain.

SACI offers undergrad and master's degrees. It is notable for its location in Florence. In fact,…read morejust as a tourist, by doing your research, you can gain access to many of the same private collections, spaces and exhibits that you would if you had paid an exorbitant tuition. The facility is rather small and dingy just like any other art school, with classrooms so close to each other that noise is often an issue. There is a rather lackluster and empty student gallery despite the facility being in a relatively well-designed building. The library is considered the crown jewel containing many art publications which the faculty expect you to use rather than depending on their knowledge. They will also expect you to be fluent in Italian, while boasting a rather poor grasp of the English language. /edited to stay within Yelp guidelines

Was invited to a private event at this venue for an opera showcase…read more Located on the outskirts of Florence, this contemporary opera house stands out with its geometric building style. The place had tight security and smelled of new construction, but I was told all of that was for the private event. But its still under construction, because the original vision was to make it an arts complex with 3 stages. I was seated in the main opera house which seats 1800. The sound was excellent inside the venue. I could see this place becoming 5 stars, once the complex is finished being built.

I've been going to this opera house for years now and have enjoyed each visit. The entrance is very…read morenice walking into the opera. The building is still new and has a very nice walkway up to the entrance. Tr main auditorium is very large and can accompany a large audience. The sounds and lighting is very good for a performance or a speaker. I've seen both and thought I could hear and see even sitting from the back. The seats, which I think is important, are very comfortable :) once outside of the auditorium there are nice areas to walk through with nice pictures of fashionable and modern art. Bottom line...great place to watch a performance or hear a speaker. This opera is new just about 4 years old so expect a modern and comfortable experience with great seating, good lighting and great speakers so you can get a good show from any seat! Pros Modern and new auditorium with a grand entrance Very close to the city center and cascine Park Nice walkways full of modern and fashionable art Cons No major cons here but I would say there are other opera houses that have a nicer ambience