Vita

First I want to say that I'm enjoying reading about everyone's plans for and experiences in Italy, and I'm green with envy about all this places I won't be seeing this time around. That said, I'm so excited about my trip! <BR> <BR>I will be visiting Uffizi and, while I'm looking forward to it, I think my patience will wear a little thin after about 2 or 3 hours. This is totally subjective, but I'm curious to know what rooms/works in Uffizi people would highly recommend so I can plan accordingly. Grazie.

Santa Chiara

It really depends on your taste. It's in chronological order, so decide which era you prefer. I don't do anything past the mid-1500s, so when I hit the Mannerist room, and I am out of there. If you like the more ornate and Baroque, then skip the earlier rooms. <BR> <BR>Give me Giotto, Uccello, Piero and the Portinari altar piece, and I am a happy camper.

Betsy

Oh those gossamer Bottacellis.

Walter

My plan of attack for any museum or historical site, is to have a good diagram/map of the building/rooms or the site area. Very often they are found in the "Blue Guide" guidebooks and online print-outs. In the "Blue Guide" I use a "Hi-lighter" pen (sometimes various colors for different subjects) for my "must-sees". Also I will write notes in the book margin or on the print-out of little things to look for in a painting, sculpture, ruin, etc. For me, I enjoy this part of planning and researching before the trip and it makes the actual visit to the museum/site go alot smoother with less chance of missing something I wanted to see, especially in a crowded museum. This is the official Uffizi website www.uffizi.firenze.it/ <BR>that can help you plan your visit along with a good guidebook (my choice "Blue Guide Florence. Also if you have time before your visit (1 or more days) you can always pick-up a local more detailed museum/site guidebook at most tourist shops. HTH Regards, Walter <BR>

Howard

For me, it's no contest.....the Botticellis! And, the Venus mousepad I bought at the Uffizi is a daily reminder!

Jeannette

The Uffizi usually has long lines for tickets. We had to go back the next day because we didn't want to wait in a huge line. So, get up early and get your tickets. The Uffizi isn't the Louvre by any means. You'll breeze through in 2 hours without losing patience. Personally, my husband and I were terribly disappointed in the Uffizi and I was astonished at how small it was after reading all about it. The museums in Rome, however, were superb. Be sure to see the Vatican Museum. I was bowled over by the art.

KT

First, since nobody's mentioned the Titians or the Caravaggios, I will. <BR> <BR>Second, I'd suggest that rather than just sticking to a list of the high points, whether your own or somebody else's, you allow some time to keep your eyes open and see what you enjoy. You may or may not have heard of Dosso Dossi, Lorenzo Lotto, Sebastiano Del Piombo, and Pontormo, for example, but they were by no means negligible artists and you may like their work as much as some of that by the Mega-Names.

Vita

KT, So do you think that it's possible to stroll through all the rooms, stopping at the pieces that I enjoy, and be out in about 3 hours?

Beth Anderson

Vita <BR> <BR>Yes, I think you can easily visit the Uffizi in three hours. Unless you linger for 20 minutes on each piece or something... <BR> <BR>Beth

robin-k

- <BR>Vita: <BR> <BR>Uffizi is quite do-able in 3 hours (or less). It's a very manageable sized museum. And you can easily walk the whole place without getting "art overload".

Vita

Cool. I'd like to see the whole thing if possible.

eva

In every town i visit the most important museum twice.The Uffizi i entered both visits at 5pm,and i was the last to leave at 7pm,no crowd,no lines.If there is an audioguide system i take it at the first visit,2nd time i just stop at my favourite paintings.if Ive got a book of the museum I read it before the visit and re-read it after the visit

Albert

There is a nice little bar with an outdoor terrace at the far end of the <BR>second wing. If you feel footsore and thirsty after the first half, head directly to the bar for some refreshment, then double back and enjoy the second half of the museum. The Botticellis are my personal favorites.

just sign me

The ROOF----WOW what a view!!!!!

CJ

You can buy your tix in advance (weekendafirenze.com) and make an appointment to see the museum. We did that 2 years ago, and it was great to skip the line! As others have said, it is a very doable museum -- not huge. The Botticellis and Fra Angelico paintings are amazing.

Diane

There is a number you can call before you leave and make reservations for a specific time. You simply walk up to the desk (usually near the bookstore and well marked) pick up and pay for your tickets, and you are in. No line. <BR>The number has been shared on the forum here, it is listed in Rick Steve's guides, and I wouldn't be surprised to find it on this website someplace. Here is a "personal" note: If you need to visit the restroom, it is located AT THE "END" of the galleries at Uffizi...also near the snack bar and outside terrace with the view. That means plan ahead, or expect you may have a very long walk back to where you noticed, um, the necessity for such a visit!

Vita

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I've already made reservations for Uffizi for first thing in the morning and Accademia for another day. Here are the relevant numbers in case anyone is interested: <BR> <BR>For Uffizi and all state museums: 055 294883 <BR>For Vasari: 055 2654321

kate

My partner and I have coined a phrase we first invented whilst wandering around the Uffizi - the "leanardo moment". This came from touring all the exhibits, enjoying the Botticellos in particular, when we came across the room holding a Leaonardo ( I can't even remember which one it was). We could see it out of the corner of our eyes, glowing in the corner, and patiently studied the other paintings before finally giving in to look at the Leonardo. After that, we felt completely spoilt, and everything else just looked average in comparison. That man was a magician. <BR> <BR>So whenever we see something or go somewhere which is so magical that it makes all our other experiences feel ordinary, we just say "oh, it's another Leonard moment"

elaine

Hi Vita <BR>do go in, as Walter suggested, with a good guidebook, or buy one in the Uffizi shop before seeing the musuem. As I have said many times here, I was thrilled to see the works in the Uffizi, and I was thrilled to leave it.I was <BR>last there almost 3 years ago, and unless things have changed there were <BR>few tourist-friendly touches compared to other world-class museums. Few directional signs, few if any captions (in any language) on the pictures, etc. I don't recall if acoustiguides were available; if there were I certainly made a mistake by not using one. <BR>Three artists stood out for me: <BR>Botticelli, Michelangelo's <BR>Tondo painting, and Leonardo. <BR>By the way, the coat check room at the time was accepting only umbrellas and jackets, but not bags. It was due to be enlarged, so the policy may have changed, but if you normally carry a totebag around with you, keep it light in case you end up toting it around inside the museum. <BR>Ditto if you go to the Boboli Gardens. <BR>

Carin

Pay for your tickets at weekendafirenze.com and walk right in. Buy the big guidebook on your way in. Rent the audio tape tour, but get one for each of you - DON'T share. We almost strangled each other. Be sure to see the painting Pieter Paul Rubens (?)(Not sure of the name)painted of his wife shortly after she died to remember her. It's not beautiful, but kind of sad to think about - I think his own painting is near it - please correct if I'm wrong. I think it's in the room after the faded Leonardo Annunciation. Nice gift shop, too.