The Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery is a must for anyone visiting Florence. The gallery boasts one of the finest art collections in the world, especially with regard to fifteenth-century Florentine painting, and is considered by many as the most important museum in Italy.
This guided tour is an unforgettable and breathtaking experience for art lovers!
The tour begins in the brilliantly frescoed corridors, littered with ancient statues, where through the portraits of the Medici family one can trace the history of the dynasty. It continues through the halls, where you can discover many artistic masterpieces such as altarpieces, many portraits, the most beautiful Madonnas of the Renaissance and the renown Venus by Botticelli. The gallery, founded in 1581 by the Medici, preserved the masterpieces of great painters such as Giotto, Masaccio, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio.
History
The building of the Uffizi was begun in 1560 by Vasari. It was commissioned by the Duke of Florence Cosimo I de' Medici who needed a new building to house the administrative offices of the florentine government. After the death of Cosimo, the new Grand-duke Francesco I decided to devote a section of the building to displaying part of the precious Medici collections. An ambitious renovation project for the whole structure is now in progress.
Tribuna
This beautiful octagonal room, with a dome encrusted with shells and mother-of-pearl on a background of scarlet lacquer, is already a work of art in itself. The Tribuna was for centuries the central attraction of the Uffizi. It was built to display the most valuable pieces in the Medici collection among which is the Medici collection including their most important classical statues among which is the Medici Venus.
The collection of paintings. Great masters
The collection of paintings was begun by the Medici family and it was left to the city by the last member of the family in 1743. It is recognized as the most important collection of paintings in Italy, and one of the great art galleries of the world.
Some of the most famous and most important pieces of artwork are kept here:
The Birth of Venus by Botticelli: The most renowned and admired masterpiece by Botticelli is undoubtedly the Birth of Venus. The painting was commissioned by the Medici and carried out on canvas- Classical texts such as Ovid's love poetry and Poliziano's verse were the literary reference.
Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci: This is one of the rare paintings left by the genius from Vinci.
Tondo Doni by Michelangelo: One of the most important works by Michelangelo and of italian painting in general, the so-called Tondo Doni, named after the florentine merchant for whom it was executed. This Holy family with the young St. John is the only painting which can with certainty be attributed to Michelangelo and the only painting preserved in Florence.
IMPORTANT NOTES
The tour provides an introduction to the museum's most iconic works.
- DURATION: approximately 2 h
- AVAILABILITY: the tour is private and can be run anytime you want
- TOPIC: history / art
- PRICE: Guiding service € 130. The price is per tour, not per person. Payment is due on the day of the tour itself. No deposit required. The tour price does not include entrance fees. Please see below for ticket prices
- HOW TO BOOK: send an e-mail to: gianna.giovannetti2000@gmail.com or gianna.giovannetti@alice.it
If you prefer a subject in greater depth feel free to ask me for a tailor-made tour experience
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Uffizi Gallery - Opening days: from Tuesday to Sunday
ENTRANCE FEES (extra and payable by customer), priority access from gate n. 1:
Price per person:
- regular: € 16,50
- reduced € 4 (children ages 6 - 18)
- free for children under 6
I will book the skip-the-line tickets in advance for my customers (families, individuals, and small groups up to 10 people). Payment on the day of the tour.
TOURS FOR GROUPS
- the maximum size of the tour group is 25 people
- mandatory use of earphones for groups with more than 8 persons