Florence Art Galleries

(Florence, Tuscany, Italy)

Tuscan art and culture go hand in hand at the numerous galleries of Florence. Expect to find a multitude of Italian masterpieces and treasures within the various art museums of the city, with artists including the likes of Bellini, Botticelli, Brunelleschi, Caravaggio, Da Vinci, Donatello, Raphael and Titian.

For some serious art appreciation, there are several galleries in Florence that really do stand out. These include the Gallery of the Accademia di Belle Arti (Fine Arts), which is located on the Via Ricasoli and has been called home by the original 'David by Michelangelo' statue since the early 1870s. Other art galleries of note in Florence include both the Galleria degli Uffizi on the Loggiato degli Uffizi, and the Grande Museo dell'Opera del Duomo on the Piazza del Duomo.

Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze (Academy of the Fine Arts)

Address: Via Ricasoli 60, Florence
Tel: +39 (0) 55 2388 609
Florence's Academy of Drawing, the first in Europe, was created in 1563 by the artists Ammannati, Bronzino and Vasari. In 1784, Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena established the Galleria dell' Accademia, on the same site that the Academy of Drawing had been founded. He donated a group of paintings to the Academy with the purpose of acquainting students with art work covering the 13th century to the 16th century. Today, the gallery has 11 rooms with a bounty of 13th to 18th centuries paintings, admittedly many are by artists who are not well-known. As well as a fine collection of 14th-to 16th-century altarpieces, the Galleria of today houses some choice 16th-century tapestries. Notable pieces held here include Botticelli's 'Madonna del Mare' (Madonna by the Sea) and the 'Deposition from the Cross' by Perugino, as well as works by Taddeo Gaddi, Giambologna, Filippino Lippi and Paolo Uccello.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 08:30 to 18:50, Saturday - 08:30 to 22:00, Sunday - 08:30 to 18:50
Admission: charge, expensive, free to students under 18 years old and those over 60

Palazzo Degli Uffizi

Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, Florence
Tel: +39 (0) 55 23885
The Palazzo degli Uffizi was founded in 1591 and when it opened was actually the world's first public art gallery. With many masterpieces by famous artists such as Botticelli, Uccello, Caravaggio, and Leonardo da Vinci, it is now without doubt one of Europe's leading exhibition spaces.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Closed: Monday
Admission: charge

Galleria degli Uffizi (Uffizi Gallery)

Address: Loggiato degli Uffizi 6, Florence
Tel: +39 (0) 55 238 8651
The famous and enormous Uffizi Gallery leads all the way down to the banks of the River Arno and the wonderful collection of art work is arranged to illustrate the story of art in Florence. There are many famous masterpieces on display and these works of art include Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Titian's Venus of Urbino, Michelangelo's Holy Family and Piero della Francesca's Duke and Duchess of Urbino. Housing the Medici art collection bequeathed to Florence in 1737, on the condition that it never leaves the city, the Uffizi Gallery still remains one of the most important art galleries in the world. Other features include the ancient church of San Pier Scheraggio, the Tribune - an outstanding room in the first corridor, the Medici Theatre, the Room of the Maps - situated between Botticelli Room and the Leonardo Room and the Vasarian Corridor - consisting of a covered passage, about half a mile long, forming a link over the river Arno between the Palazzo Vecchio and the Pitti Palace.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 08:30 to 22:00, Sunday - 08:30 to 20:00
Closed: Monday
Admission: charge, local residents under 18 or over 65 free, discounts available for European visitors aged between 18 to 25

Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe (Department of Prints and Drawings)

Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, Florence
Zone: Centro - Piazza della Signoria
Tel: +39 (0) 55 23885
Located in the Medici Theater rooms on the first floor of the Galleria degli Uffizi in Piazza della Signoria, highlights of the collection include drawings of Leopold di Lorena, designs of Cardinal Leopold de Medici and many works of art belonging to Grand Prince Ferdinand.
Open hours: daily - 08:15 to 18:00
Closed: Monday
Admission: free

Il Bisonte è Aperto (Il Bisonte Graphic Art Gallery)

Address: Via San Niccoló 24/28r, Florence
Tel: +39 (0) 55 234 2585
Founded in 1959, this gallery specialises in graphic works of arts. It was created by Maria Luigia Guaita to promote works printed and published by the printing house Il Bisonte, including paintings by many famous classical Italian artists, for example Carrà, Severini, Magnelli and Maccari, as well as some new, emerging artists.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 13:00 and afternoon by appointment
Closed: Saturday
Admission: charge

Istituto degli Innocenti

Address: Piazza Santissima Annunziata, Florence
Tel: +39 (0) 55 249 1708
The Istituto degli Innocenti was designed and built between 1421 and 1434 by Brunelleschi and this building marks the revival of classical architecture in the city. Inside there are pillars, arches, cloisters and a museum displaying works of art by Luca della Robbia, Ghirlandaio and Rossellino.
Open hours: daily 08:30 to 14:00
Admission: charge

Museo Alberto della Ragione

Address: Piazza della Signoria 5, Florence
Tel: +39 (0) 55 283 078
The renown and respected art collector Alberto della Ragione donated his large collection of art to the city of Florence. There are over 250 paintings on display, showing how art has changed and evolved in the last century.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 14:00, Sunday - 08:00 to 13:00
Closed: Tuesday
Admission: charge

Museo Marino Marini

Address: Piazza San Pancrazio 1, Florence
Tel: +39 (0) 55 219 432
This museum is full of almost 200 works of art by Marino Marini, an important 20th-century Italian sculptor.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Closed: Tuesday
Admission: charge

Museo Storico Topografico 'Firenze com'era'

Address: Via dell'Oriuolo 24, Florence
Tel: +39 (0) 55 261 6545
The development of the city of Florence over the past 600 years is clearly documented by the comprehensive collection of paintings, designs, topographical maps, photographs and prints.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 14:00
Closed: Thursday
Admission: charge, free entrance to children under 12

Centro per l'Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci

Address: Viale della Repubblica 277, Florence
Tel: +39 (0) 55 745 317
Created in 1988, this gallery showcases the works of both Italian and international artist in 10 rooms and was created by the architect Italo Gamberini.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 19:00
Closed: Tuesdays
Admission: charge, reduction for groups, children and those over 60

Grande Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (Cathedral Museum)

Address: Piazza del Duomo, Florence
Tel: +39 (0) 55 230 2885
Housing some of the finest examples of Renaissance art in the world, highlights include an impressive sculpture collection and work by Michelangelo, Donatello and Leonardo da Vinci.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Closed: Tuesday
Admission: charge

Museo dell'Opificio delle Pietre Dure

Address: Via Alfani 78, Florence
Tel: +39 (0) 55 26511
Situated next to the Duomo, the second largest church in Italy and the fourth largest in the world, this museum contains many famous works of art, including Michelangelo's marble Pietà and Donatello's Maddalena in wood.
Open hours: daily - 08:15 to 14:00, Thursday - 08:15 to 19:00
Closed: Sunday
Admission: charge