Work signed by Giorgio Vasari, by commission of Cosimo I from the Medici, the Gallery of Uffizi is a masterpiece itself. A project from the 1560 was to build a new seat of the Tuscan Grand Duchy administrative and judiciary offices ("uffizi") that connected the Ponte Vecchio to the new seat of the local government, Palazzo Pitti, that could go over the river and through the air (like Cosimo wanted).

It was his son, Francesco I to transform the building in a place where to walk around through paintings, sculptures and prestigious works. From that period to now the Gallery has put together a large artistic heritage, one of the most important in Italy and maybe worldwide, as long as Florence is considered the art cradle par excellence. 

Till now, along the corridor between the two sides of the gallery, that leads you from Palazzo Vecchio to the river Arno, beyond the tourists taking pictures and making the line to enter the Museum, you see many street artists who make all kind of paintings (you can buy them directly from a lovely Tuscan landscape watercolour to a funny caricature). Besides, like in every prestigious museum or square in Europe, here couldn't miss the funny characters who dress up like a statue to get some coins from those who take their pictures.

The collection joins works from the early Middle Ages to the Modern, including not only paintings but many sculptures, miniatures (paintings on the old manuscripts), arrases and a notable gallery of drawings and printings.

> Annunciation. Simone Martini, 1333

The history of the Museum and its collection is certainly linked to the history of Florence, specially regarding the Medici family who has started it through its patronage. That kind of praxis to sponsor the best artists to commission artworks dates back from the 1300's, from when starts the collection.

As the building is an artwork itself of Renaissance architecture and decoration, which walls and ceilings are painted and decorated by frescoes, its presents either magnificent views of Florence from its wide windows, as long as the rooms are located on the first and second floors.

Before getting inside, you start enjoying an exhibition of sculptures positioned in many niches of the bulding along the boulevard of the Gallery. Each sculpture represents one of the important Italian and Tuscan figures of art, architecture, science,  literature and history: Leonardo da Vinci (the one on the picture), Amerigo Vespucci, Galileo Galilei, Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Boccaccio, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Donatello and many others.

We have included here a few examples of importat works that can be seen inside the "Galleria degli Uffizi", but this is only a sample of what is possible to see... besides, they promote constantly new events, special exhibitions with masterpieces coming from other parts of Italy and the world. Visit the official website (below) to see what is new at the Gallery now.

> Polittico di Ognissanti. Giovanni da Milano (1346 - 1369) - Recently restored.

Reservations are not necessary but highly recommended, to avoid getting a long long line when you get there and having no time to visit all rooms.

You can buy tickets on-line or make a reservation by phone, the staff speaks English, on the official website of the Polo Museale Fiorentino.

> La nascita di Venere. Botticelli. (around 1485)

Through the official website you can BUY TICKETS ON-LINE for all museums of Florence and for all special exhibitions. Or call FIRENZE MUSEI to make a reservation to visit Galleria degli Uffizi, on the number 0039 055294883.

MORE RENOWED ARTISTS WHICH WORKS ARE PRESENT AT THE "GALLERIA DEGLI UFFIZI":

Among the Italians: Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raffaello, Michelangelo, Caravaggio

Among Germans, Flemish and Dutch artists: Durer, Rembrandt, Rubens

 > Laocoonte. A copy from the helenistic sculpture from the 79 - 81 A.C. by the Florentine Baccio Bandinelli (1493 - 1560) commissioned by the Cardinal Giulio de' Medici.

> Primavera or The Allegory of Spring. Botticelli (around 1477).

Visit the Gallery and see all lists of works and what is in each room - CLICK HERE

p.s: The first picture is the Annunciation from Leonardo Da Vinci.