5 Must-See Museums in Florence and How to Visit
Jessica Spiegel is a freelance writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon. She's an obsessive knitter who loves Italy, cooking, Sazeracs, footy, pho, altruism, and finding delights in cities with bad reputations.
Jessica Spiegel is a freelance writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon. She's an obsessive knitter who loves Italy, cooking, Sazeracs, footy, pho, altruism, and finding delights in cities with bad reputations.
Hi, I'm Jessica!Jessica Spiegel is a freelance writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon. She's an obsessive knitter who loves Italy, cooking, Sazeracs, footy, pho, altruism, and finding delights in cities with bad reputations.
Hi, I'm Jessica!Jessica Spiegel is a freelance writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon. She's an obsessive knitter who loves Italy, cooking, Sazeracs, footy, pho, altruism, and finding delights in cities with bad reputations.
Florence is a city for art lovers, with a number of museums in the compact city center that contain world-famous masterpieces. It's a good idea to plan ahead for your visit to avoid crowds and long lines. Here are our top museum picks in Florence.
Uffizi Gallery
For Italian Renaissance paintings.
Arguably the most famous museum in Florence, the Uffizi Gallery has an incredible collection of Italian Renaissance paintings. Artists include Botticelli, Raphael, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci.
How to Visit: Lines outside the Uffizi can be hours long, especially in summer. Avoid the wait with a skip-the-line tour.
Accademia Gallery
For Michelangelo's David.
The main draw at the Accademia Gallery is Michelangelo's exquisite sculpture of David, the symbol of Florence. The museum also has several unfinished Michelangelo sculptures and a small collection of paintings.
How to Visit: Choose a skip-the-line tour to avoid the queue outside the Accademia, or a combo tour that also takes you to other Florence sites.
Pitti Palace
For a collection of museums.
The powerful Medici family once lived in the large Pitti Palace. Today, the Pitti houses several museums, including a collection of Renaissance paintings, a Silver Museum, and the former Medici royal apartments.
How to Visit:Skip-the-line tours available for the Palatine Gallery and the Modern Art Gallery, with private tours available for personalized attention. Many visitors also make time to explore the Boboli Gardens behind the palace.
Bargello Museum (Museo Nazionale del Bargello)
For an array of sculptures.
The Bargello Museum is housed in the city's former jail, and the main draw is the collection of sculptures—including some of Michelangelo's first works.
How to Visit: Lines for the Bargello aren't as long as they are for the Uffizi, but a skip-the-line ticket assures you won't wait. Private tours offer context for the collection and the building's history.
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
For artwork once displayed inside the church.
The magnificent Duomo's interior is sparsely decorated, with most of the artwork that was once inside the church now on display in the Duomo's museum. It also features Ghiberti's original Baptistery doors and a pieta by Michelangelo.
How to Visit: Tours that combine the Duomo, Baptistery, and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo provide a full picture of the art and history of the complex, while private skip-the-line tours allow you to bypass the queue and gain insights into the displays.
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