Friends of The Uffizi - Discontinued?
 

My daughter and I will be in Florence for 4 days in May. I've done the math, and it's definitely more economical for use to get a pass, plus it allows us to skip the line, and not be locked into a reservation.

Rather than get us each a Firenze Card, which has to be used in 72 consecutive hours and can only be used once per museum, I wanted to buy the Friends of the Uffizi family card. It is the same price, is good for 1 year (wishful thinking!), includes all the museums we are interested in, and can be used to go in a museum twice if we wanted to go back to a place.

The links I have for this card are from the Uffizi website, but appear to be broken; however, the website doesn't say that the program has been discontinued.

Any information on how to get this card or whether the program is still in existence is appreciated!

None of the links on this official page describing the program work:
http://www.uffizi-gallery.com/visiti...he-uffizi.html

Direct link does not work::
http://www.amicidegliuffizi.it/en_home.aspx

This link might be helpful.

http://tuscantraveler.com/2011/flore...-degli-uffizi/

The hyperlinks on it to the FOU website don't connect to anything real but it does explain that you can phone the Welcome Desk there at the Uffizi and gives a phone number.

In the event that the Friends of Uffizi card is not an option, can anyone answer this question about the Firenze Card?

I realize that the card's validity is independent of the purchase date, but their website is rather vague about when the clock starts ticking. It refers to 3 days, as well as 72 hours.

How does it count 72 hours? If I first use it on May 19th at 9am, will it expire on May 22 at 9am? Or will it expire at midnight on May 21?

Thank you, laurie. I may end up having to call; nice to have the number at hand.

TTT

My memory is that it gets validated with first use and expires 72 hours after that moment.

Incidentally, it doesn't allow you to jump queues. At the Accademia and the Uffizi it merely puts you into a different queue, and queues aren't really an issue anywhere else that takes the card (it's not accepted at the Cathedral's paid-for outliers or at Santa Croce).

At peak times, that different queue is still, for people used to unrestricted access to art galleries and museums, extraordinarily slow moving - though no doubt faster than the normal queue. You should allow for this in your time budget.

>>>How does it count 72 hours? If I first use it on May 19th at 9am, will it expire on May 22 at 9am? Or will it expire at midnight on May 21?<<<

Italian websites usually have more info in Italian and don't bother to put everything in English (or the Italian doesn't exactly translate). Google translation from Italian on the Firenze Card website:

It is a card that lasts 72 hours after initial activation and allows you to access only once in each of the museums participating in the circuit, with the card you can visit the permanent collections, exhibitions and all other activities organized in the museums belonging to the circuit without code and do not make a reservation. With this card also, within 72 hours of validity, you can use all means of local public transport of the city.

Florence Card is activated at the time of its first use, in a museum or on a means of transport. From that moment, you have 72 hours to explore the city and its historical and artistic heritage. The validity of the card is then independent of the date of purchase. Before using it you need to write your name on the back of your card.

>>>How does it count 72 hours? If I first use it on May 19th at 9am, will it expire on May 22 at 9am? Or will it expire at midnight on May 21?<<<

Italian websites usually have more info in Italian and don't bother to put everything in English (or the Italian doesn't exactly translate). Google translation from Italian on the Firenze Card website:

***It is a card that lasts 72 hours after initial activation and allows you to access only once in each of the museums participating in the circuit, with the card you can visit the permanent collections, exhibitions and all other activities organized in the museums belonging to the circuit without code and do not make a reservation. With this card also, within 72 hours of validity, you can use all means of local public transport of the city.

Florence Card is activated at the time of its first use, in a museum or on a means of transport. From that moment, you have 72 hours to explore the city and its historical and artistic heritage. The validity of the card is then independent of the date of purchase. Before using it you need to write your name on the back of your card.***

The Friends of the Uffizi website seems to be working again. Here's the member page.
http://www.amicidegliuffizi.it/diven...php?pg=8&ln=en

kybourbon - once again you have come through like a champion! Thank you for the translation/clarification and for the working link.

flanneruk - I appreciate the insight on the "skip the line" that really is just a shorter line. I know this is a tough question because there are so many variable such as time of year, day, etc., but what do you estimate the wait time for the Uffizi and Accademia in May WITH a Firenze card? Would it be faster to have reservations?

Thanks for any insight as to how to best use our time and reduce time in queue.

"what do you estimate the wait time for the Uffizi and Accademia in May WITH a Firenze card? Would it be faster to have reservations?"

No idea. Some things in life you really have to accept just aren't subject to micromanagement.

flanneruk - so true especially with travel! For me, "managing" on the front end is just an aid to getting the most out of my trip. My plans are rarely hard and fast, just what I might reasonably expect to see/do, and they are usually made with much fluidity!

I've never waited more than 15 minutes at the Accademia without reservations in summer, but I've always gone in the afternoon.

darlene, if I remember correctly, and I do mean IF, the shorter lines include those coming with reservations. Otherwise, there would be three lines, and I don't think that's the case.

If I'm wrong, and there are lines for those with passes, and lines for those with reservations, and lines for the rest of the world, I hope someone chimes in. Why? Because I'm an American with limited vacation time and a long schlep to Italy, and I want to get the most out of my time, too.

A lot of planning is worth it, and can be fun, too.

tuscan - I remember seeing only 2 queues, but that was a while ago before the advent of the Firenze pass. i don't know where they'd put a third one!

we were staying round the corner from the Accademia, and the impression I got was that if you turned up here mid-afternoon, you wouldn't need a reservation. That was in October.

I can't say about the Uffizi.

From what I gather, there are only 2 lines - one for those with reservations/cards and one without; however, the one for "with" tends to move much faster as those with reservations go directly in at their appointed time, and Firenze or the Friends of Ufizzi cardholders(based on what I've read) go in at a minimum rate of 4 people every 15 minutes. Don't know if this is accurate or not, but it seems reasonable.

Based on all the great advice and tips, I have revised our trip AGAIN, and the final (yeah, right) focuses on an "art" day with both A & U in the afternoon. An afternoon visit combined with a card should get us in relatively quickly.

Day 3, Tuesday, May 21st:
9:00 Bargello (earlier if we can)
10:30 Museum of San Marco
12:00 Lunch at Trattoria Mario Via Rosina 2r
Mercato Centrale & Leather Market
2:30 Accademia
4:00 Uffizi Gallery

I don't anticipate doing much more in the Accademia than seeing David, so I don't think we'll be "museumed out" by the time we go to the Uffizi.

As far as viewing lots of things, I would say that the Bargello offers the best opportunities. Give yourself plenty of time there.

At San Marco, don't miss the lovely cloister.

For the Uffizi, at the end of your long day of art, try to follow a "highlights" program or suggested route. Maybe Rick Steves has one; I think he is known for that sort of thing. I suggest this because those corridors can seem awfully long after traipsing all over Firenze.

I've seen the Accademia do a cash line before(exact amount only!) and a separate credit card line.

While the Uffizi says closure tasks start at 18:35 and closure at 18:50, most museums seem to head people towards the exit 30-60 minutes before closing.

>>>I don't anticipate doing much more in the Accademia than seeing David,<<<

There's the music instruments, the Prisoners and several levels upstairs. You can click through some of the rooms on the website and figure out what else you might want to see. The diagram doesn't show much of the upstairs.
http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/en/musei/?m=accademia

Great tips from you both. I have learned through experience that I'm good for about 3 hours maximum in a museum, and then I go into "overload."

I do exactly what you suggest - look at the website and chose what we most want to see and save the rest for the "ever hopeful" next time! I feel like I could spend a month in the Florence/Tuscany area and not even scratch the surface.

So while I know it appears that we are rushing through museums, for me, it will be so fulfilling just to be able to see some of the highlights and experience a sampling of what is offered.

I go to the Met every time I'm in New York, and still haven't seen it all.

kyb-Thanks for the info on the some of the other exhibits in the A. We will definitely do more than see David, and I had allowed about an hour there (even though I could just sit and look at that single sculpture for longer than that). *sigh*

I must focus on the excitement of being in such an amazing place and not lament over the lack of days . . .

Great tips from you both. I have learned through experience that I'm good for about 3 hours maximum in a museum, and then I go into "overload."

I do exactly what you suggest - look at the website and chose what we most want to see and save the rest for the "ever hopeful" next time! I feel like I could spend a month in the Florence/Tuscany area and not even scratch the surface.

So while I know it appears that we are rushing through museums, for me, it will be so fulfilling just to be able to see some of the highlights and experience a sampling of what is offered.

I go to the Met every time I'm in New York, and still haven't seen it all.

kyb-Thanks for the info on the some of the other exhibits in the A. We will definitely do more than see David, and I had allowed about an hour there (even though I could just sit and look at that single sculpture for longer than that). *sigh*

I must focus on the excitement of being in such an amazing place and not lament over the lack of days . . .