The Uffizi Gallery (and Vasari Corridor)

The Uffizi Gallery houses the world’s most important collection of Florentine art. The collection traces the rich history of Florentine art, from its 11th-century beginnings to Botticelli and the flowering of Renaissance art. At its heart is the private Medici collection, bequeathed to the city in the 18th century.

Its collection of Primitive and Renaissance paintings comprises several universally acclaimed masterpieces of all time, including works by Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo and Caravaggio.

The Uffizi Gallery occupies the top floor of a large building erected between 1560 and 1580 to house the administrative offices of the Tuscan State. The Gallery was enriched by various members of the Medici family, who were great collectors of paintings, sculpture and works of art.

The collection was rearranged and enlarged by the Lorraine Grand Dukes, who succeeded the Medici, and finally by the Italian State.

Running across the top of the Ponte Vecchio is part of the famous Vasari Corridor, built for the ruling Medicis by the Renaissance painter and designer Vasari.

The private enclosed walkway leads from the Palazzo Vecchio and Uffizi Museum runs across the top of the bridge to the Pitti Palace on the other side of the river.

This walkway enabled members of the Medici family to move between their residences without mixing with the crowds.

The entrance to the Vasari Corridor is through the western corridor of the Uffizi.

The passage goes over Ponte Vecchio and up the hill to exit at the Boboli Gardens near the Buontalenti Grotto.

At the moment you can only visit in groups organised through tour companies.

Uffizi Gallery opening times

The Uffizi is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8.15am – 6.50pm.

You can obtain admission tickets from opening to 6.05pm.

Note: The Uffizi Gallery is closed on Mondays. On Tuesdays, because of the Monday closing expect even more demand than normal.

Uffizi Gallery free first Sunday every month

Every first Sunday of the month entrance is FREE for everyone. No pre-booked tickets are sold for these dates.

Uffizi Gallery - when to visit and how long will I need?

Because of its very central location the independently minded visitor has no problem visiting at a time and pace of their choosing. The only real factor to consider is potential waiting times and getting tickets to enter the gallery.

How long your visit takes is a personal thing, if you are really interested in the subject matter allow 3-4 hours, for the guy in the street perhaps 2 hours. If you are doing both Accademia and Uffizi, in one day the Uffizi Gallery is much larger, the Accademia for most people is about 30-90 minutes.

Uffizi Gallery - facilities

Audio guides are available in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese and are not included in the standard admission charge.

Unlike the Accademia the Uffizi has a cloakroom. Visitors must hand in umbrellas, large bags and backpacks. There is no charge.

There are two museum shops, one at the entrance and another at the exit of the museum.

There is a cafe, from which there are good views of the city.