So Many Museums, so little time!
There truly is something for everyone in Florence, and it pays to plan ahead, especially for the most popular sites (Uffizi, Accademia, and Dome climb in particular). State museums are free the first Sunday of each month, so tickets cannot be reserved.
Please note that I’ve done my best with the hours and prices here, but the official websites (all provided below) will have the most up-to-date info.
Latest News: The FirenzeCard is back! You can buy it online and use your phone as your ticket (or pick the pass up in Florence). It is valid for 72 hours and you can enter each museum once (some, like the Uffizi and Accademia, still require a reservation time; details can be found here).
Click here to see my availability and to book your tour!
Florence: galleria degli uffizi
Built under Grand Duke Cosimo I by Vasari in the 1560s, the Uffizi were originally Medici ‘offices’ but now house the greatest collection of Renaissance paintings in the world. These are works you’ve seen on postcards, in TV shows, perhaps even parodied, but just why are they so important?
Warning: This is a huge collection of art and you cannot take it all in in a day, but together we can look at the highlights and understand the evolution of Florentine art from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Please allow a minimum of 2 hours, and if you are really interested in the art, then plan on 3.
The Vasari Corridor should be opening in 2024…watch this space!
Tickets: €25. This is the official website for the Uffizi, and tickets may be purchased here.* Do not be fooled by third-party websites, which often charge much more for tickets. Queues are often very long, but you can try the ticket office at Orsanmichele (Via dei Calzaiuoli) for same- or next-day tickets, or try going towards the end of the day after all the groups will have passed through. The FirenzeCard has just been brought back, but you still need a timed entrance.
Hours: Tues 8.15-22.00, Wed–Sun, 8.15-18.30 (closed Mondays).
* Please note that there are no student discounts, but children under 18 are free (you’ll just pay the booking fee) and must show their passport when picking up the tickets.
As your guide, I do not need a reservation or a ticket.
Click on the pictures to see details of just some of my favourite works. If you’re on your cellphone, there should be a tiny dot in the lower righthand corner to allow you to see the captions. From your desktop, simply hover your mouse over the bottom of the image.
Florence: accademia
Purpose-built to house the world’s most famous statue, the Accademia is absolutely worth a visit. Michelangelo’s David is the highlight, but you may also enjoy the collection of musical instruments (dating from the 16th-20th centuries, including a Stradivarius and the oldest upright piano, plus a hurdy gurdy or two) and an impressive selection of religious paintings. If you just come for Mike, nessun problema! Marvel at his unfinished Prisoners, destined for the tomb of Pope Julius II, and gain insight into his sculptural process.
Tickets: €20. You can try your luck on the day, but queues are always long indeed (often shorter during lunch time), but you can also try the ticket office at Orsanmichele (Via dei Calzaiuoli) for same- or next-day tickets. This is the official website of the Galleria dell’Accademia, and tickets may be purchased here.* Do not be fooled by third-party websites, which often charge much more for tickets.
Hours: Tues–Sun, 8.15-18.45 (first Sunday of the month is free so reservations cannot be made; closed Mondays).
* Please note that there are no student discounts, but children under 18 are free (you’ll just pay the €4 booking fee) and must show their passport when picking up the tickets.
As your guide, I do not need a reservation or a ticket.
florence: bargello
The Bargello is to sculpture as the Uffizi is to paintings, and this museum is an absolute must-see.
Tickets: €13. You can usually purchase tickets on the day of your visit, but a reservation is worth it (here is the official website).
Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sun 8.15-13.50; Sat 8.15-19.50. Closed Tues and the 2nd and 4th Sun of the month. From 1 Mar–31 July: Mon & Sat 8.15-18.50; Wed, Thur, Fri, Sun 8.15-13.50.
Cumulative Ticket: This is a great deal if you want to visit the Bargello, the Medici Chapels, Orsanmichele, Palazzo Davanzati, and even the Casa Martelli. It’s €21, valid for 3 days, and grants you priority entrance to each site. Purchase it here.
Florence: Museo dell’opera del Duomo
Recently reopened in 2017, this museum doesn’t get as many visitors as the Uffizi or Accademia despite housing magnificent works of sculpture made for the Cathedral and Baptistry, plus some of the original tools used by Brunelleschi to construct the Dome.
With your combination ticket you will be granted entry (one time only) to the Museum (Museo dell’Opera del Duomo), Baptistry, Cathedral excavations and crypt, Campanile (Bell Tower) climb,* Cupola (Cathedral Dome) climb **. In the Baptistry admire 13th-century mosaics and a 15th-century tomb for the Florentine antipope John XXIII. Underneath the Cathedral see the remains of the previous one dedicated to Santa Reparata, plus the tomb of Filippo Brunelleschi, architect of the Renaissance.
Combination Ticket: This is the official website and here is the link to purchase the ticket (details below).
Hours: Please check the website, but here are the latest hours:
• Baptistry: 9.00-19.30. NB: the mosaics are currently under restoration, but for €65 you can take a tour upon the impressive scaffolding (I did it, and I loved it!). English visits are only on Saturday at 11.00, or in Italian Friday at 17.00 and Saturday at 15.30.
• Bell Tower (Campanile): 8.15-18.45
• Cathedral (free): Mon-Sat 10.15-15.45; closed for worship on Sundays
• Santa Reparata (crypt): Mon-Sat 10.15-16.00; Sun 13.30-16.00
• Dome (Cupola): M-F 8.15-18.45; Sat 8.15-16.30; Sun 12.45-16.30
• Cathedral Works (Opera del Duomo) Museum: 8.30-19.00 (closes at 20.00); closed on the first Tuesday of the month.
• Duomo Terraces (closed for now)
* At time of writing this you do not need a reservation to climb the Bell Tower.
** Combination tickets are valid for 3 days from the date of first entrance:
• Brunelleschi Pass €30: Dome climb (you must reserve the time to climb up the 463 steps that lead to the best view in town), Campanile (you may also climb this - 414 steps), Baptistry, Cathedral Works (Opera del Duomo) Museum, Santa Reparata (crypt + excavations below the Cathedral). Note that the ticket is valid from the day of the dome climb.
• Giotto Pass €20: Campanile, Baptistry, Cathedral Works (Opera del Duomo) Museum, Santa Reparata
• Ghiberti Pass €15: Baptistry, Cathedral Works (Opera del Duomo) Museum, Santa Reparata
If you would like me to accompany you, I will also need to reserve a ticket, so please let me know so that we can book altogether.
and oh so many more!
You can never be bored in Florence with all there is to see, and there truly is something for everyone! Some other museums that may be of interest include:
Orsanmichele: This church and its museum have finally reopened! The former granary of Florence became a church and then a place for the guilds to one-up each other with statues of their patron saints. The copies of these great works are in the niches around Orsanmichele, but the originals are upstairs and are truly magnificent (Ghiberti! Donatello! Giambologna! and more!). (€8. Hours: Mon/Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat 8.30-18.30, Sun 8.30-13.30, but church closes at 12). NB: also part of this cumulative ticket option.
Santa Croce: Franciscan HQ and a pantheon to famous Florentines (Michelangelo and Galileo are buried here), with works by Giotto, Cimabue, Taddeo Gaddi, Donatello, and Brunelleschi, to name a few. (€8. Hours: Mon/Wed/Thur/Fri, Sat 9.30-17.30 until 18 April; Mon–Sat 9.30-17.00 from 19 April; Sun 13.00-17.30)
Santa Maria Novella: Dominican HQ housing stunning frescoes by Masaccio, Ghirlandaio, and Paolo Uccello. (€7.50. Hours: Mon–Sat 10.00-17.00; Sun 13.00-17.00). BONUS: Masaccio’s Trinity is under restoration, but for an additional €1.50 you can go up the scaffolding (about 10 steps) to see this masterpiece from another vantage point.
San Marco: The other Dominican convent, plus Fra Angelico, Savonarola, and more Fra Angelico (did I mention Fra Angelico?)! Closed on random days, so be sure to check before you visit. (€11. Hours: Tues–Sat, 8.15-13.50, plus the 2nd and 4th Sun of the month and the 1st and 3rd Mon of the month, 8.15-13.50). The website is confusing, but you can get tickets via the official Florence museums ticket office here (or just get tickets on the day of your visit the old-fashioned way, at the ticket office).
Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens: The Medici family purchased this in the 16th century (their other palaces simply weren’t large enough!). The Palatine Gallery houses works by Raphael and Titian underneath frescoes by Pietro da Cortona, a true feast for the senses. Explore the Gardens afterwards and contemplate all you have seen on a bench in the shade. (€16-€22. Hours: 8.15-18.30, closed Mon; weekend reservations required. Boboli Gardens open daily with €10 also valid for the Bardini Gardens.)
Palazzo Vecchio: Begun in 1299 under Arnolfo di Cambio (same architect as for the Duomo and Santa Croce), this is still Florence’s town hall. The Medici used it as their residence in the 16th c, but centuries before, this was the site of the Roman Theatre (recently excavated, but not yet open to visitors). (€17.50; €12.50 Tower. Hours: daily 9.00-19.00, but Thurs 9.00-14.00; Tower climb, Mon/Tues/Wed/Fri 9.00-17.00 and Thurs 9.00-14.00; archeological site temporarily closed)
Palazzo Medici-Riccardi: Yes, home to that Medici family! Learn about this remarkable dynasty by visiting their magnificent 15th-century palace. We can walk around it and through the courtyard without a ticket, but if you’re into artists with 4 Z’s in their name, then add a visit to the Cappella dei Magi, frescoed by Benozzo Gozzoli, to your list!). (€10. Hours: daily 9.00-19.00, closed Wed)
Medici Chapels (with sculptures by Michelangelo - read about their incredible restoration – just completed – here!). The Secret Room of Michelangelo has just opened, and you can visit for an extra €20 (only 4 people at a time, so book early! UPDATE: As of 19 Jan, all spots are SOLD OUT through April 2024, but there are some spots in May! Try your luck at the official website here.). (€9. Hours: daily 8.15-18.50; closed Tuesdays). For more Medici fun, head to the Basilica of San Lorenzo, designed by Brunelleschi and with works by Donatello inside. (San Lorenzo Hours: Mon–Sat 10.00-17.00; ticket grants you entry to the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Old Sacristy, Crypt, and cloisters). NB: also part of this cumulative ticket option.
Synagogue: Italy boasts more than 2,000 years of Jewish history; Florence’s impressive 19th-c Temple is fundamental to understanding the relationship that the city has had with its Jewish citizens, from the Middle Ages to the present day. (€6.50. Hours: June–Sept, Mon–Thur 10.00-16.30, Fri 10.00-17.00; Oct–May Mon–Thur 10.00-17.30, Fri 10.00-15.00)
Galileo Museum: Filled with astrolabes and incredibly interesting maps (before and after Amerigo Vespucci’s explorations), understand how we explored the world before Google. Be sure to download the free app before you go! (€13. Hours: daily 9.30-18.30, but Tues 9.30-13.00)
Stefano Bardini Museum & Gardens: Those you from MA might be particularly interested to learn more about Mr Bardini and Isabella Stewart Gardner. (€10. Tues–Sun 10.00–19.30.) For you budding photographers, the Gardens host an annual contest for the best picture underneath the wisteria arch in spring! These gardens also have a lovely bar at the top with breathtaking views of the city. (€10, also includes entrance to Boboli Gardens. Hours: gardens open daily 10.00-16.00 closed 1st and last Mon of the month; check website for extraordinary closures. NB: free entrance 1st Sunday of each month!)
Stibbert Museum: Explore the history of collecting and check out a wonderful collection of European armour. (€10. Hours: Mon/Tues/Wed 10.00-14.00; Fri/Sat/Sun 10.00-18.00; group visits every 30 min)
Palazzo Davanzati: Recently reopened, here you can gain insight into what life may have been like for a Florentine merchant. (€6. Hours: Tues/Wed/Thurs 8.15-13.50; Fri/Sat, and 2nd and 4th Sun of month 13.15-18.50). NB: also part of this cumulative ticket option.
Fiesole, Civic Museum and Archeological site: Escape the crowds of Florence and hop on the #7 up to this Etruscan town, and enjoy the views from the Roman Theatre. (€12. Hours: Archeological Site and Museum, Nov–Feb daily except Tues 10.00-15.00; March daily 10.00-18.00; April–Sept 9.00-19.00; Bandini Museum Fri/Sat/Sun with same hours as Archeological Site.)
Hike up to the Piazzale Michelangelo to earn that third gelato, and further up still to San Miniato al Monte for Vespers (chanted in Latin by the monks) at 17.00. (free. Hours Mon–Sat 9.30-13.00, 15.00-19.00; Sun 8.15-13.00, 15.00-19.00)
Plus there are loads of churches you can wander into for free! Here are some of my favourites:
Santa Trinita: Ghirlandaio’s frescoes for the Sassetti Chapel provide a glimpse into what 15th-c Florence and its citizens looked like (with portraits of many a Medici included). Have €2 ready to illuminate the chapel! (Hours: Mon–Sat 8.00-12.00, 16.00-18.15; Sun 8.15-10.45, 16.00-18.15)
Ognissanti: Does the name Vespucci mean anything to my American friends? It should, and the family chapel is here (as is Botticelli’s tomb, though his bones were washed away in an Arno flood years ago)! The church also boasts some glorious artwork, including masterpieces by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, and a recently restored Crucifix (with a blue cross!) by Giotto. BONUS! There’s also a Last Supper by Ghirlandaio (hours vary, but generally 9.30-12.30). (Hours: Mon/Thur 9.00-13.00, 15.00-18.00; Tues/Wed/Fri/Sun 9.00-13.00, 15.00-19.00)
Santa Felicita: Pontormo’s Depolamentombment (not real title, but a brilliant student of mine coined this term! Deposition + Lamentation + Entombment!) is here in its original location in the Capponi Chapel (€2 to illuminate and well worth it to appreciate the marvellous colours fully). You can also see where the Medici could witness mass from the safety of the Vasari Corridor above. (Hours: Mon–Sat 9.30-12.30, 15.30-17.30; closed Sun and holidays)
Santo Spirito: Brunelleschi’s incomplete last work, this church has always been close to my heart. It’s free to enter, but for €2 you can (you MUST!) see the teenage Michelangelo’s wooden Crucifix, then enjoy the market and have lunch in the lovely piazza in front. (Hours: Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri/Sat 10.00-13.00, 15.00-18.00; Sun 11.30-13.30, 15.00-18.00; closed Tues)
