I realize that this is totally subjective, but I'd appreciate your opinions.

DH and I are taking our first trip to Italy at the end of September. We decided to try to do less in order to enjoy it more, so we're doing a week in Rome, then three nights in Siena, and then one night in Florence before looping back to Rome and home.

We'll have, all told, about a day and a half in Florence, arriving in the morning from Siena and then leaving the next afternoon to head back to Rome. I know many will say that this is too little time for Florence, but DH's tolerance for art, much less religious art, is limited and we're spending the one night (as opposed to just a day trip from Siena) only because I insisted that we <b>could not </b> go to Italy without staying in Florence.

That said, we intend to visit the Accademia (even DH wants to see David). The other "logical" choice would be the Uffizi. There are, of course, many other choices -- and I've read other posts with opinions of the Bargello, Museum of San Marco, Pitti Palace, etc. I'm pretty well set on spending our short time in Florence dragging DH to museums and enjoying art, but I'd like to make it as "non-deadly" as possible for him. Like, he enjoyed the Musee d'Orsay, but found the Louvre to be deadly.

Given the time we have, is the Uffizi a must? If we should never return to Florence, will I regret it forever? Or, is the Uffizi more approachable than I think?

Thanks much!

I thought that this was a thread a few months ago-check back in the archives.

Nothing is a must. The Uffizi is approachable and well worth the time for one who appreciates art, but, we found the Pitti Palace to have a more varied collection and looking back, we appreciated our day there more than the time spent at the Uffizi. Perhaps we are spoiled by having the National Gallery nearby and the Philadelphia Art Museum and NY's Met within easy reach. A plus to the Pitti Palace are the Boboli Gardens that are included in the combination ticket. The gardens were delightful even in January, and had unique views of both the city and the countryside.

At the expense of other things you will not see by devoting the few hours necessary for the Uffizi - NO IMO

and you can see a copy of the David just near the Uffizi if that will placate your partner.

Some how you have survived so far without seeing the Uffizi, go figure.

But seriously, you'll have to decide how many of the "You were Florence and you didn't go to the Uffizi?" questions you'll be able to take from your friends.

It is possible to go in, see one or two specific things you want and then get back out again. I think that if I were going to do that, I would go see the Botticellis.

I have been to the Uffizi several years ago and wandered around it for quite a while and the Botticellis are the only paintings I remember. they really are breathtaking.

I enjoy art museums and the Uffizi was one of my least favourite. It felt too warm, stuffy and crowded when we went in November (probably less busy than it'll be in Sept).
I'd skip it as you have so little time.
Climbing the Duomo and the Campanile were two of our favourite things to do in Florence and the views from the top are beautiful... a burnt umber sea of terracotta roofs surrounded by green hills plus from the Campanile a close up view of the Duomo.

The Uffizi can be an acquired taste. I, too, have minimal interest in solely religious art - esp early religious art - but I can't imagine missing the Boticellis. And we did enjoy the Pitti Palace more than the Uffizi - at lest in part due to the much smaller crowds.

If your husband found the Louvre deadly and can take only so much religious art, then I say skip it. The Pitti Palace may work better because of its varied collections and settings. However, with so little time in Florence, I'd probably skip the Pitti Palace as well. See other art by visiting churches like Santa Croce or the Baptistery at the Duomo.

But seriously, you'll have to decide how many of the "You were Florence and you didn't go to the Uffizi?" questions you'll be able to take from your friends.>

we travel in quite different crowds - if i said i went to Florence to my friends nearly none of them would have even heard of the Uffizi.

If you want to visit the Uffizi, go. Don't let your hubby's aversion to anything hold you back from enjoying Florence.

Leave him at a cafe, a park bench, store, wherever...I'm sure he'll be fine. Maybe he'll even decide to come with you after you tell him you're going on your own?

I think you are well advised to consider not "dragging" your husband to the Uffizi. There are loads of things to see and experience in Florence that take less time and planning. Simply visiting the Duomo, Baptistry, Piazzale Michelangelo, San Croce, Piazza Signoria, Medici Chapels and the Accademia would likely more than fill your quota of art/history/architecture and allow you to respond positively to any inquiries about your visit. I enjoy museums and especially renaissance and pre-renaissance art but found the Uffizi almost numbing in its consistency (but I will return again in Dec.). I suggest you allow for other sites during your brief stay. And you will have a valid reason to return! Enjoy--Paul

The Uffizi is one of the oldest and most famous art museums of the Western world. It is glorious. I would definitely not miss this. As a sidepoint, Italy is one of my favorite European destinations- and if I were you I would devote less time to Siena- a day trip I think would suffice and instead focus more on Florence. It is far more beautiful and far more interesting. And if you can, go to Venice too. When I was there I stayed about 4 nights in Rome, 3 in Florence and 3 in Venice. And to me the time distribution was perfect. Whatever you do, you will love Italy. Have a great time!

Why can't you go to the Uffizi and your husband do a gelato taste test or relax with a cappucino and watch the people go by. He might enjoy going through the Central Market and picking up some snacks for your trip from one of the stands. Or, he could take a nap.

There is no rule that you must be together 24/7 on a vacation.

Go to the Bargello instead! There's more variety among its exhibits, and they're more accessible to those who might be bored at the Uffizi. Also, it's less crowded and you don't need a reservation--just check the hours; they're somewhat limited.

Have a wonderful time!

Here's another vote in favor of the Uffizi. I think it's a must if you're an art lover.

I'm also a firm believer in not letting others dictate to you whether you should go see an attraction or not. If your DH doesn't like art, there's always a sidewalk cafe to sit in or some non-museum activity to enjoy for him -- heck, I even spent a couple hours bowling the time I went to Florence just to break things up a little at one point. If you want to go to the Uffizi, I say go. Life's too short to wonder "what if?"

If you and your husband absolutely want to stay together in Florence, I'd say you could skip it. In terms of the building it's not my favorite museum for the reasons others have mentioned, and unless you're into art and particularly that style, I'd rather spend a day in Florence at the Duomo and doing other things. (Seeing the Birth of Venus was very cool, though, I have to say.) I think your husband and I may have similar tolerances for art (I enjoy it in doses, but after awhile it tends to run together for me). So I would see the (real) David, which is amazing, and then enjoy the rest of your time together.

However, if you want to go to the Uffizi, you should go to the Uffizi. Splitting up for a couple of hours isn't a big deal. You'll get to see something you want to see, and he'll get to not feel dragged around and maybe do something he's interested in but you're not. And you'll have ready-made dinner conversation. Everybody wins.

The fist time I visited Florence, daytripping from Arezzo on the locale with the students and pendolari, I went. It takes about half a day I'd reckon to see it so I probably in hindsight wouldn't recommend it to someone there for such a short stay. Particularly if it isn't a consensus must-do.

After you see the Duomo and Baptistery, David and take lots of time to walk around, I think you could take a pass on the Uffizi. Lots to see outside plus the shopping.

DH and I also enjoyed Bargello more because of its size. If you have any art interest, I would try to see the "big" things at Uffizi-our desk clerk got us a reservation so we walked right in.

I never miss the Uffizi, but unless it is something high on your own list, skip it this time and, as a trade off, go to the Borghese Gallery in Rome. It is absolutely fabulous and easy for someone not as much into art. You have a set time, so no lines, and it is limited to two hours. I don't know anyone (art lover or no) who hasn't really enjoyed it.

You probably already have hotels, etc. all arranged, but IMHO, I also think Loislane777's advice about redistributing your time and visiting Venice, is very good.

Thanks to everyone for the input. You've given me lots to think about.

We chose to go to stay in Siena for three nights because after a week in Rome we thought it would be good to have some non-big city experience. And, it we thought it would be a centrally located base to Tuscan day trip. Given our limited time (would that we had a month!) we regretfully decided to skip Venice to spend more time better appreciating what we are attempting to see.

Hopefully, there will be a next time, or several next times, and we can see things we will miss now, including Venice, Milan, and (at the other end) Pompeii, Sorrento ...

Thanks again!