Top 10 Museums In Florence
The best of the best in the birthplace of the Renaissance.
31 January 2020
Firenze is an art loverâs dream, and its relatively small size means itâs eminently walkable. Wander the halls of the Pitti Palace, aka Palazzo Pitti, former home of the Medici family. Admire the perfection of Michelangeloâs David at the Galleria dell’Accademia, gape at the sheer size and grandeur of the Duomo and Santa Croce or, for a less touristy art experience, discover the Bargello Museum or Casa Buanarottiâhome of Michelangelo during his Florentine years.
When you travel with Journy, your trip designer will point you in the right direction towards the best museums and art galleries in Tuscany’s capital city. But in the meantime, discover our shortlist below:
To witness the world’s greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art
The Uffizi Gallery is located adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria and is home to the worldâs greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art. Florenceâs most renowned gallery occupies the massive U-shaped Palazzo degli Uffizi, which was constructed in the 16th century between 1560-1580. The collection has some of Italyâs most well-known art, including Piero della Francesco’s portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Urbino, a room filled with works of art by Sandro Botticelli, The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, Madonna della Seggiola by Raphael, and masterpieces from the likes of Michelangelo, Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Raffaello, and more.
A Guide To The Best Museums In Florence
Home > Blog > A Guide to the Best Museums in Florence
Is a visit to the incredible museums in Florence on your wish list? Florence is an utterly breathtaking city in the idyllic Italian region of Tuscany. But this famous location is not just a pretty face its also home to a plethora of sensational museums.
Whether you are a stickler for art, culture, history, or have a passion for all three, you will find a museum to suit your interests in Florence. Not only is this one of the most romantic places to visit in Italy, but its also a standout destination to learn more about the countrys past.
With such an outstanding array of museums to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. We have created a guide to the best museums in Florence to help you plan your visit to Italys Renaissance capital.
Contents
Museo Opera Del Duomo
Next is one of the most unique museums on this list, Museo Opera Del Duomo. This museum has a very specific niche, dedicated to commemorating the planning and construction of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, one of the best churches in Florence.
Fascinating politics and history surround this museum, making it one of the best museums to visit in Florence. However, the architecture of Museo Opera Del Duomo should be enough to draw you in.
To paint a quick picture, upon entering the museum you are immediately greeted by the Hall of Paradise. This contains an exceptional reconstruction of a Duomo facade even containing exact replicas of sculptures that once sat in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The museum is full of artworks originally held in the cathedral, and the building houses some of the most important sculptures in the world.
There are three floors, 28 rooms, and 6,000 sq. meters of space in the showrooms, so there is plenty to explore during your visit. Some of the top exhibitions in the museum include Galleria delle sculture, Sala Della Maddalena and Tribuna di Michelangelo.
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Michelangelos David In Accademia
Otherwise known as Galleria dellAccademia di Firenze, Accademia is an art museum centered around Michelangelo and his work. Unlike the Uffizi, the gallery is centered around Michelangelos statue of David which is a must-see on the bucket-list for Florence.
Deservingly so, David was cut from a block of marble abandoned by more than one other sculptor whom all described it as, Un-usable. Michelangelo not only was able to work with it but sculpted what is arguably his masterpiece.
He famously described David as trapped in the marble. It is a humble way to describe sculpting. David always existed inside that block of marble and it was Michelangelos mission to get him out.
You can also see four unfinished statues by Michelangelo which sort of frame the corridor that leads up to David. There are also works by other artists in Accademia including Sandro Boticelli. Getting tickets can be difficult. We offer a guided tour of Florence that includes a stop into Accademia to see David and visits many of the main sites in Florence lead by a local English-speaking guide.
Museum Of The Medici Chapels In San Lorenzo
This site is the burial place of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany and their relatives, as well as all the members of their families . The Medici Chapels are contained in some areas of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, and have an entrance from the back of the church, in Piazza Madonna degli Aldobrandini.
The New Sacristy was designed by Michelangelo and is adorned with marble and sculptures. The Chapel of the Princes, commissioned by Cosimo I, is a sumptuous octagonal room surmounted by the dome of San Lorenzo, which with its height of 59 meters, rivals Brunelleschi’s Dome of Florence Cathedral. It was decorated and embellished with gems, mother of pearl and lapis lazuli.
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Palazzo Strozzi: Best For Families
Whether you have art-curious kids or not, the attention-grabbing contemporary art at this 15th-century Renaissance palazzo captures everyones interest. Themed hands-on workshops and tours aimed squarely at families accompany each blockbuster exhibition: immersive games, activities and imaginative narratives plunge families into the vibrant world of Jeff Koons, modern American artists, contemporary French artist JR, all sorts.
Strozzis elegant interior courtyard is a trendy spot to linger with locals and the café-bar beneath its arches is a buzzy spot for coffee, Tuscan wine, cocktail-fueled aperitivi and the finest iced cappuccino in town.
With Limited Time In Florence Always Book Ahead
If you’re in Florence for a limited time, like with only a day or two in the city, then do not leave it to chance and pre-book museum tickets. If you only have a few hours in Florence, I would suggest you book your tickets ahead of time and not spend even half an hour in line! You will want to make the most of the time you are in Florence.
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Museo Nazionale Del Bargello
Another of the best art museums in Florence, Museo Nazionale del Bargello showcases remarkable pieces of artwork that will capture your attention from the get-go. Make sure you leave plenty of time to explore this establishment properly, as there are simply so many mesmerizing masterpieces to survey that time will certainly be of the essence during your visit.
The museum boasts the largest collection of Gothic and Renaissance Sculptures in the whole of Italy. Here, you will be able to feast your eyes upon groundbreaking pieces of art including Michelangelos very first major sculpture, Bacchus, Donatellos outstanding statue, Bronze David and elaborate pieces from Ghiberti and the Della Robbia family.
The beauty of the Museo Nazionale del Bargello is not just limited to the masterpieces that it displays, as the building itself is a work of art and has a fascinating story to tell. Its located within the Palazzo del Bargello a dramatic fortress that dates back to 1255. The building was initially used as a prison before functioning as the seat of government and, finally, becoming a museum in 1865 .
Museo Di Palazzo Davanzati
What is it: A historic palace in the city centre, known as the Museum of the Florentine House since the early 1900s.
Why go: If you want to really see and feel how Florentines lived before the tourists took over the streets, head to the lesser-known Museo di Palazzo Davanzati. Renovated in the early 1900s by another antiquarian, Davanzati is decorated as a historically accurate elegant Florentine home from centuries ago. Here, you can step into history and discover the everyday items that these Italians used to surround themselves with. The detail in the decoration is on full display, unlike the artwork or sculptures at other Florence museums.
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Only In Florence For A Few Hours
Regardless of the time of the year, if you’re visiting Florence for only a few hours , I highly recommend you BOOK your museum tickets ahead of time. You don’t have much time to dedicate to Florence so you don’t want to spend time in line. Booking your tickets ahead of time will be one way to ensure you have more time to see beautiful Florence!
The Boboli Gardens A Nice Quiet Place To See In Florence
- The perfect place to take a break from the city is at italys premier gardens, Boboli Gardens.
- A nice, natural place to breathe in some fresh air.
Why its so awesome: The Boboli Gardens are behind the Pitti Palace and offer awesome natural views. They once belonged to the Medici family but are now a public park thats full of classical and Renaissance sculptures and hidden grottos where you can relax and destress from the rush of the city.
What to do there: When you find yourself getting tired of the crowds, head to the Boboli Gardens for a little restoration. Wander around and check out the sculptures including the Boboli Obelisk from Egypt and check out the grottos as well. The Grotta di Buontalenti is particularly amazing, with a fairy tale feel and appearance that youll love.
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The Bargello Pitti Palace And Other Museums In Florence
Even though other Florence museums, such as the Bargello National Museum with its great sculpture collection, the Pitti Palace with its several museums and the Boboli Gardens, and the Medici Chapels with more sculptural masterpieces by Michelangelo, are not as busy as the Uffizi and the Academy, it’s still useful to reserve tickets for these museums if you’re visiting during high season. For these museums, you can reserve tickets online three days in advance while for the Uffizi we recommend getting them much before.
The 6 Most Important And Influential Florence Museums
Unlike Rome, Paris or London, Florence is a small village rather than a city. That said, it is the small city that pulled Europe out of darkness the birthplace of the Renaissance. Per capita, Florence is home to one of the greatest collections of artwork the world knows.
The artists born and trained in Florence would go on to decorate Europe at large. While this list is definitely shorter than the ones youll find in Paris or Rome, it is more than most could cover on their first trip to Florence.
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Museum Of The San Marco Monastery
In 1437, Cosimo de Medici decided to rebuild a crumbling Dominican convent complex. He hired the famed architect Michelozzo. The walls were decorated by Fra Angelico and his workshop. San Marco is now a haven of uplifting tranquility and home to some of Florences best sacred art.
Fra Angelico was a devout monk. With Giotto and Donatello, he helped transform the art world and usher in the Renaissance.
His humanistic pieces, with delicate palettes, led him to be dubbed the Angelic Painter or Il Beato . Giorgio Vasari described Fra Angelico as a rare and perfect talent.
The highlight of the San Marco Museum is the Sala dell Ospizio , where the most important Fra Angelico paintings are housed, including among others The Last Judgment,The Crucifixtion and Saints, and The Annunciation .
The Annunciatio
There are also seminal works by Ghirlandaio, Michelangelos teacher, including a Last Supper fresco in the Refectory. Legend holds that the cherries arranged on the tablecloth spell out a rhyme.
You can also visit the old monks cells on the second floor. Theres a plain room where the fanatical monk Savonarola, the scourge of the Medici, lived and worked. Also stop in to peer at the simple cell where Cosimo de Medici came to meditate. Its decorated with Fra Angelicos Adoration of the Magi.
Address: Piazza San Marco 3
Hours: Open daily from 8:15 a to 1:20 pm
Entry fee: 13.75. Book online for a reserved time slot here.
San Marco Convent Museum
Not far from the Accademia Gallery and Michelangelos brilliance, you find the extraordinary world of Fra Beato Angelico. A complete change in tone and atmosphere, here you enter a secret and tranquil space. The San Marco Museum is a former convent where the Early Renaissance artist Fra Angelico created the very best of his work. In the mid 15th century this Dominican friar and skilful painter adorned the walls of the monks cells and some public spaces with his delightful frescoes. In these scenes from the life of Christ, the devotional spirit shows in the frescoes light delicate colours. Dont miss the room once inhabited by the religious fanatic and leader Savonarola, and the room where Cosimo de Medici used to come to pray.
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The Pitti Palace And Boboli Gardens
Visiting the Pitti Palace is a spectacular way to spend a day in Florence, as it truly offers something to suit anyone and everyone. Whether youre into history, art, architecture or botany, something is sure to pique your interest in this museum.
The Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens were established from the estate of the Medici family, an iconic family dynasty in Italian history. You will be amazed by the establishments magnificent art department, boasting pieces from the Medicis private art collections and an Aladdins cave of rare silver and gemstones.
Now recognized as one of the best museums to visit in Florence, the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens stands as a glorious display of opulence and offer a fantastic display of fine art. Whats more, it is likely to be slightly quieter than the other museums on the list as it is located on the southern side of the River, away from the hustle and bustle of the city center. So, The Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens make a wonderful place to visit if you fancy taking in a bit of culture in peace and quiet.
The Medici Chapel In The Basilica Of San Lorenzo
The Medici Chapel has the largest number of Michelangelo sculptures in Florence. Its part of the Basilica of San Lorenzo Complex. But it has a separate entrance and separate ticket. San Lorenzo was the official parish church of the Medici family.
Michelangelo himself designed the Medici Chapel between 1520-34.The chapels coffered dome is similar to Romes Pantheon. The walls are clad with pink green, gold, and white marble.
Michelangelo carved six tomb statues the effigies of Giuliano and Lorenzo de Medici and the allegories of Night and Day and Dusk and Dawn. Night is regarded as one of Michelangelos finest works. To me, the effigy of Giuliano is extraordinarily beautiful.
NightDay
And the museum has a secret room! In 1527, Michelangelo returned to Florence from Rome to defend republican forces during a civil war.
When Florence fell, Michelangelo retreated into a secret room below the chapel until he received a pardon from Medici pope Clement VII.
Michelangelos secret room wasnt discovered until 1975, when a museum director spotted a trap door. The room contained charcoal sketches and doodles by Michelangelo on the walls, identified because they replicated his known works.
The Medici Chapel is one of Florences best and most popular museums. It absolutely requires pre-booking to visit. Click here to purchase a ticket. Click here to book a guided tour.
Address: Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini 6, at the northeast side of the basilica
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Bargello Palace National Museum
Begun in 1859, Italy’s first national museum outside the Vatican contains important works by 14th- to 16th-century Tuscan artists, particularly Donatello, the della Robbias, and Michelangelo. Four of his masterpieces are the focus of the rooms off the courtyard: a marble Brutus a relief of Madonna and Child with the young John the Baptist, a tondo carved about 1504 David , also known as Little Apollo and Michelangelo’s first large sculpture Drunken Bacchus, .
Here, too, you’ll see Benvenuto Cellini’s model of Perseus, his marble statue Narcissus, and his small bronze sculptures. As you climb the stairs notice the bronze animals from a Medici villa.
The large 14th-century hall at the top shows works of Donatello, among them his St. George , an early marble David, a later bronze one made in 1430, and St. John as a Child. Be sure to look for Brunelleschi’s and Ghiberti’s models for the competition for the north portal of the baptistery. Along with a room of ivory carvings, there’s a collection of majolica and a room filled with enamels and gold work, for which Florence was famous in the Renaissance.
The top floor has one of the museum’s highlights: two rooms of glazed terra-cotta by Andrea and Giovanni della Robbia. Along with the works of several masters, what distinguishes the Bargello is its attention to decorative arts and three-dimensional art.
Address: Via del Proconsolo 4, Florence
Chianina Meats And Chiantis: Florences Best Food And Drinks To Try
Fiorentina Steak
Food is a huge part of Italian culture and every day life and that includes Florence too. Bistecca alla Fiorentina Fiorentina steak is one of the dishes you absolutely must try when in town.
This type of steak is of particularly high standing and a definite taste of Florence. An adult Tuscan beef steak cut 3-4 fingers high in the T-bone loin is cooked rare. The Chianina meat is from the breed of cattle of the Val di Chiana region: a dense, lean beef steak. Artworks go back to 1624 depicting this juicy cut.
There are numerous restaurants around the city ranging from mid-range to high where you can have a good bistecca alla fiorentina. Regina Bistecca cooks their Chianina steak on exposed charcoal embers. Buca Lapi, on the other hand, is one of the oldest restaurants in all of Florence, having been open since the 1880s. When I last visited Florence, I had a Florentine steak at Trattoria Osteria dallOste. There are actually several scattered around town and the best is the one that is closest to the Duomo.
Lampredotto Sandwich
Apparently as old as the Palazzo Vecchio and as adored as Danteâs poetry, try one of these sandwiches for a taste of Florentine street food deliciousness. âLampredottoâ is the local word for eels, as the meat resembles them in shape and color. Filled with tender slices of tripe which have been boiled in onion, celery and tomato broth, it is garnished with salsa verde, a spicy green sauce.
Wine Tasting
Drinks at Sesto on Arno
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