Top 5 museums a must see
 

I would like to know which are the top 5 MUST see museums to see in Florence!!

I'm not an expert, but I would say the Accademia (for the David) should be on a top 5 list!

I know you've been doing lots of research for this trip - most guidebooks will have this info in them.

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...=full&pg=5

I'd say for museums, the "Top 5" would be the Bargello, Ufizzi, Accademia, Palazzo Pitti and Museo del Duomo. Although I really enjoyed the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, with its beautiful frescos in the little chapel there.

We were in Florence about a month ago and feel one of the real under raved-about gems is the Museo di Storia della Scienza (Museum of the History of Science). It is quite easy to get to, being located along the Arno River just behind the Uffizi. You do not have to be a scientist to appreciate the instruments used by the scientists that we all remember from our school days. We spent a couple of hours there, and enjoyed every bit of it.

I don't know about hte top 5, but the first two, to me, are without a doubt the Ufizzi and the Accademia. Reserve your tickets for the Ufizzi well in advance (Fodors section on Florence should have the phone number to call, and they speak English).

The Accademia did not take long to visit at all--maybe an hour--so it is easy to fit in to even a very aggressive schedule and well worth it to see David and The Prisoners.

Part of the "museum" experience in Florence is the churches - museums in themselves. My top 5 must sees are:

The Accademia
The Uffizi
Santa Croce (see Giotto frescoes + tombs/memorials for Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Dante and others - my favourite church in the world)
Museum of San Marco (a monastry that's now a museum - you can poke around the original monks' cells and admire the frescoes - fascinating)
San Lorenzo (church of the Medicis - the chapel/mausoleum round the back is eerie in the extreme and the side chapel has some Michelangelo sculpture, also the library on the side has a staircase designed by Michelangelo).

These were the first 5 off the top of my head. There is really so much to see in Florence it's bewildering. I've been about 10 times and still haven't seen everything I want to.

my five/six are
Accademia
Uffizi
Bargello
Museum of the Duomo
San Marco (a former monastery with marvelous frescoes)and Medici Chapel

We will be in Florence at the end of next week. I have already made reservations for Uffizi, Accademia and Pitti Palace.

We will also definitely want to see Duomo and Medici Chapel. Do you think we need a reservation for Medici Chapel? I'm absolutely willing to pay a service charge to avoid a line, but just wondering if it's necessary.

Thanks!

I completely agree with Lesli's list, but don't miss the church of Santa Croce. The San Marco museum is also top notch for frescoes if you want even more art. Allow at least 2-3 hours for the Uffizi, an hour for the Accademia, 1-2 hours for the Museo del Duomo (highly interesting and varied collection), 1 1/2 - 2 hours for the Bargello, 3 hours for Palazzo Pitti, one hour for Santa Croce, and one hour for San Marco.

Not to mention the Santa Maria Novella

I'm still not sure...can I make reservations for Museo del Duomo or Medici?

I think that the only one you guys haven't already mentioned is the Ferragamo Shoe Museum -- and it's wonderful too!

valerie, no, you only need reservations for the Accademia and the Uffizi.

Kate, thanks!