Uffizi and Acadamia
 

How much time should we allow to see the Uffizi and Acadamia?

We're trying to figure out what time we should make our reservations for Uffizi and Acadamia?

Thank you!

Hi I,

Figure from 0:15 to 1:30 hr at the A, 1-4 hr at the Uffizi.

((I))

at least a half day each and ideally, i would not want to see both on the same day...too much to take in. there is a lot to see at accademia beyond David (however, that is one of the most stunning things I've ever seen!)

I did both on the same day (Uffizi in the morning and the Academia in the afternoon) and I did not find it overwhelming at all. I even broke for a leisurely lunch between the two. You will need considerably longer at the Uffizi than at the Academia, so I would try to get a morning reservation there. I think about 4-5 hours is a good guestimate of the amount of time to allot, assuming you plan to view everything. I actually only spent about 2 1/2 hours there, but I also skipped several galleries of work that just did not interest me. I love art but, honestly, one can only look at so many pieta paintings before they all begin to look alike. I visited Florence near the end of my trip. By the time I got there, I already had eight days of Naples and Rome (including Vatican City) behind me, and I'd pretty much reached my pieta appreciation limit by that time. If you plan to view each and every exhibit, you will need considerably longer. The Uffizi is large. I didn't realize how large, in fact, until I got there.

I spent about an hour and a half at the Academia, but I also spent a lot of time in this one room that is full of basically nothing but plaster molds and castings. For whatever reason, I just found that room completely fascinating. It was like being let loose to explore a warehouse sized artist's studio. Most people, though, go there primarily to see the David, which you can do in about 15 minutes, if that is all you are interested in. The key thing, though, is DEFINITELY make reservations to both museums. The lines to them get unbelievably long very early in the day.

Funtimes4.....I plan to do both on the same day, fit a good lunch and dinner in there, however, how is it getting from one place to the other? Good quick stops in between to shop or something else worth seeing?

getting from one to the other is doable walk of taking your time 20min or so.
Ira is correct 11/2 hours at the Acadamia is more than enough and 4 hours at the Uffizi will leave you glossy eyed, it did me.I have been there 3 times in my life the last I enjoyed the most because I skipped the 10,000 paintings of madonna's, and really saw the other stuff they have for the first time. But each person is different.
Get your legs in shape for the climb up those stairs <G>

Hi,

I am travelling with a rather unmuseumy type and will be spending 4 nites in Florence. Is a guided tour the thing to do or is there a "best of"list. This is my first trip to Italy and I know that I will be gaga over everything but I don't want to send my companion into a coma.

Thanks.

Lucci

Hi L,

Florence has architecture as well as art. You needn't do more than one museum a day (OK 2).

We spent 11 nights in Florence. You might find my trip report useful:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

((I))

For the Uffizi, you need to plan on whatever length of time is your own personal art museum maximum. Do your eyes glaze over, or does your back ache after 2 hours? Then allow 2 hours. Do you never get enough of a good museum? Allow 4 or 5 hours. There is SO MUCH THERE that you could truly spend all day, so allow however long you can handle without it becoming unpleasant.

In addition to your own personal art tolerance, which can range from near zero to infinite, it may also depend on what other museums you are seeing elsewhere on your trip.

I am a big art fan, I have studied Renaissance art extensively, and some days I just don't want to see a single Madonna & child, or red cloaked Cardinal, etc. As Joanne points out the Uffizi has about 10,000 of those and it is easy to get glassy eyed in about 15min, especially if you are leg weary, hungry, or otherwise tuned out.

I consider the Accademia one of those 'must sees' simply because there is no other sculpture quite like David.

The Uffizi is great, but I would not consider it a must do. If you are traveling with an 'unmuseumy' type, then consider splitting up for the afternoon. He/she can shop for jewelry on the Ponte Vecchio while you browse the art. When you get together later you can share your art tales, and get a nice piece of gold as well. Of course I'm kidding about the gold/Ponte Vecchio, but not about splitting up. There is no need to be joined at the hip 24/7 while on vacation.

Yes, it's very easy to walk from the Uffizi to the Academia. My hotel was actually just down the street from the Uffizi, overlooking the Ponte Vecchio, and I couldn't have asked for a better location. It was only about a seven minute walk to the Duomo and it's only another 3 or 4 to the Academia from there. My guidebook told me it was a twenty minute walk from the Uffizi to the Academia, but it's more like ten. I found Florence as a whole very easy to navigate and foot friendly. It was kind of confusing when I first got there, but once I aligned the actual landmarks with their positions on my map and got my bearings, it was almost impossible to get lost--just know your churches and piazzas and where they are in relation to other main sites in the city.

When we try to see the 'best of' any museum, I buy the 'for dummy's' guide books. They usually have a list of the highlights, etc. Rick Steeves may also have the same kind of overview (we used him in the uffizi).

"some days I just don't want to see a single Madonna & child"

LOL! There is actually a part of Rick Steves' tour of the Uffizi where he writes something to the effect of "Stop. Do you notice anything about this room? There is not a single Madonna & Child!"

Everyone has had good suggestions and takes on it now all you have to do is figure out which works for you. Enjoy!

Grazie All,

Your advise is helpful and well taken. Do you suggest that I get my tickets for the museums before I leave or can the hotel do that.

Ciao,

Lucci

Ira,

Thanks for the link for your trip report..I enjoyed it very much.

Lucci

What time of year are you going?

We went at Christmastime and prebooked both museums. It wasn't necessary. We could have walked right in to both of them.

I would allow 2-3 hours for the Uffizi and no more than an hour for the Acadamia. I generally get exhausted in museums after 2-3 hours. If I take a break, sometimes I can stay later, but not usually. You can do both in the same day, but you might not want to. That is the problem with prebooking. Once you have the reservation, you have to use it even if you want to change your schedule.

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