Uffizi or not
 

While we're not really museum goers, we have gone to and enjoyed some of the major museums.

We particularly enjoyed the Prado. Possibly because of it's manageable size and partly because we saw several paintings by each of the artists and enjoyed recognizing their work and respective styles.

We've been to Florence twice before. Years ago. Visited the Accademia once way back and the Uffizi twice.

I keep thinking I should have spent more time on those unfinished works in addition to David and look forward to another visit this summer.

But, as the title implies, the issue if the Uffizi. Having been there twice before and not remembering anything we saw, I'm windering if I should pass on the Uffizi and possibly put in one or two others in it's place.

The Bargello?

Visit a few Medici villas? Petraia and/or Poggio a Ciaino?

Thanks for comments.

If you've been to the Uffizi twice and don't remember anything about it, the message is clear. Don't waste your time there again.

Don't know what else you've seen, but here are a few lighter/quicker possibilities that you might enjoy:

Bargello, as you mentioned
Museum of the Work of the Duomo
The Baptistery of the Duomo
Santa Croce Church
Museum of San Marco
Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, particularly the Gozzoli Chapel

Myer:
There is a small but meaningful and interesting museum at the
beautiful Moorish-domed <i>sinagoga</i> (Templo Israelitico). Easy walk from the Duomo (it shows on all city maps). Don't be put off by the security booth and the armed guards...a reality and necessity in the Europe of today. Enjoy your trip.

stu tower

ellen,

Thanks for the reply. I'm waffeling.

As I wrote, we've been to Florence twice before. The first time must be "many years" ago and the second just "years" ago.

On the first visit we went to the Pitti Palace. What I remember most was an artist (or student) attempting to copy the work of a slightly more famous artist.

On that trip I climbed the Duomo (I'm still waiting for the t-shirt commemorating that feat). I'm tempted to do it again if the body will do it. The view was amazing. But then again the view from Piazza Michaelangelo was as well. Went twice on each visit.

We visited the Accademia and I'm looking forward to another visit. I remember David and wish I had spent more time on those unfinished works.

The Uffizi. Is it age or did it just not have much of an impression on me?

I keep remembering going into Palazzo Vecchio but not much else.

I remember the Bapitstry Doors.

Santa Croce. I remember the distinct look of the church as well as SMN.

As I also mentioned. We're not avid museum goes. Wandering the streets, seeing the sights. Visiting home museums if there are any and the villas I've listed above are quite interesting. We enjoyed the Frick more than the Met. The d'Orsay more than the Louvre (except for the Mona Lisa and venice de Milo).

tower,

You bring up a good point.

I remember visiting the Synagogue in Rome. I walked in with my day backpack and sat down in the chapel waiting for our tour guide. It was written all over that backpacks are not permitted yet nobody said anything to me.

I asked the tour guide about it and she said the fellow at the entrance knows who to check. Hmmmm.

It's on my list.

If you enjoy house museums, consider the Palazzo Davanzati:
http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/en...sei/davanzati/

Or the quirky Museo Stibbert:
http://www.museostibbert.it/english/engid.html
(The Italian version has more photos; look at Collezioni.)

we loved the Uffizi. the primavera and birth of venus is AMAZING !!!
but if i had to choose between uffizi and david, DAVID WINS !!!

I highly recommend both the Bargello and the Museum San Marco

I think if you've already seen the Primavera and Birth of Venus and don't remember them, don't bother going back to the Uffizi.

I recommend the Bargello, the Duomo Museum and the Brancacci Chapel for more manageable and more memorable experiences for you. The Brancacci Chapel is just breathtaking. I'd be surprised if you don't remember that after!

I loved the Prado - visited twice during the three days I spent in Madrid.

I visited the Uffizi and couldn't care less if I never went back.

They're both art museums but they have very different art collections. Goya, Vasquez, El Greco, Hieronymus Bosch are some of my favorite artists so of course I loved the Prado.

But I'm not that interested in art from the Renaissance (except for Michelangelo - his David is the most spectacular work of art that I've ever seen) so I didn't really care about the Uffizi.

Maybe it's the same for you. Just because you enjoyed the Prado doesn't mean that you'll enjoy the Uffizi, especially if it didn't make an impression on you before.

The Uffizi is a difficult museum to visit—incredibly crowded, ill labeled, ill lit, and ill hung. If you're not interested in Madonnas, those first first rooms could make you lose interest in the rest pretty quickly. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and I usually recommend that people NOT visit the Uffizi unless they are particularly interested in Renaissance art for all these reasons.

For most people, I think it can be more rewarding to visit a few churches in Florence and see the impressive art in the original locations rather than on a museum wall. So I visit Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, Santa Maria del Carmine's Brancacci Chapel, all of which now have entrance fees. But I also love to step into the "free" churches to see what I might find. I love a quick visit to the Pontormo Chapel at Santa Felicita or the frescoes at Santissima Annuziata or Santo Spirito.

I love the Baptistery, not just the exterior. It makes a quick visit and you can sit and stare at the lovely mosaics above—I'm a fan of mosaics. There's a brochure that explains all the parts for those who are unsure. I've enjoyed Zerlina's recommendations as well.

If you've been to the Uffizi twie and don;t remember Venus on the Half Shell - it is definitely not your type of place and you should check out other options (palaces or churches or something else).

We visit Florence each time we are in Italy - we'll be there for the 8th time in September. We've probably been to the Uffizi 5 times and last time we were there, we decided not to go back. It's not that it doesn't leave an impression but that it is a bit overwhelming unless you can't get your fill of Renaissance art. We love the Bargello, Santa Croce and the Museum of the Works of the Duomo - and of course, the Duomo itself. A fascinating but out of the way place to go is the Church of Sta. Maria del Carmine with the Masaccio frescos in the Brancacci Chapel. Make sure you see everything you want to see for the first time and return to the things you loved last time before you see the Uffizi again. Florence, to me, is like Paris in that you can stay for ages and not see everything so you have to keep going back. Enjoy!

Well, I guess I'll speak to my wife and get her feelings on the topic. But as far as I'm concerned the Uffizi is out and a few of those mentioned above are leading contenders.

the Bargello
San Marco
Palazzo Davanzati
the Synagogue

look particularly interesting.

This is great. Thanks.

If you are interested in Galileo, you might like the science museum if their restoration is complete when you visit.
http://www.imss.fi.it/

I agree with ellenem, the Uffizi is just not a well-presented museum. It would be a blessing if they got a new director who shook the place up and made it more approachable for the public. I gave up on it long ago. I like the Bargello and the Museum of the Works of the Duomo better.

Myer, you said above:

<i>I asked the tour guide about it and she said the fellow at the entrance knows who to check. Hmmmm.</i>

The guards at many <i>sinagogas</i> in Europe and elsewhere, are usually Israelis, highly trained to do proper profiling. "Knowing who to check"..that says it all. I have had some very illuminating conversations with several of them while visiting synagogues world-wide. Just write it you'd like my extensive list.

stu [email protected]

If the Uffizi left you cold and you're not keen on Renaissance art, I don't think you'd like Museo di San Marco. It is almost 100% the work of a single early Renaissance artist (a monk) and all religious.

tower (stu),

Some years back we were in London and decided to go to Kensington Palace (Diana lived here) to see a display.

After getting off the bus we had a bit of a distance to walk thru a paved road in the park.

We came to a "soft" guardhouse and there was a sign indicating no photography. I asked the guard why and he pointed across the street at the Israeli embassy.

This thread is a reminder to me about the falsity of the notion of "must sees" in a general sense.