Uffizi, Florence

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most famous museums in the world for its extraordinary collections of ancient sculptures and paintings from the Middle Ages to the modern era.
Shortly after moving to Palazzo Pitti in 1560, Cosimo I de’ Medici, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, commissioned Giorgio Vasari, his trusted artist, to construct the administrative and judicial offices of Florence.
However, the artist was unable to complete the work, and the patron never saw it finished. In fact, it was completed by the architect Bernardo Buontalenti and Cosimo’s son, Francesco I de’ Medici.

Completion

In 1581, the latter arranged the Gallery on the second floor.
In 1584, Buontalenti came up with the ingenious idea of the octagonal Tribuna hall, an alchemical representation of the Four Elements, where the most precious works can be admired.
All members of the family contributed to enriching the collection across all fronts. From ancient to modern art, from the scientific instruments used by Galileo Galilei to the extremely rare botanical specimens it contains.

Thanks to the last descendant of the family, Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, this incredible collection has remained almost completely intact.
Indeed, in 1737 she imposed the Family Pact on the new Grand Duchy, binding her family’s inheritance to the city of Florence forever.
The building opened to the public with the current purpose of a museum under Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo in 1769.

Creations of all kinds are found within the Uffizi, which is truly a showcase of genius.
Works by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Caravaggio are just some of the many marvels that can be admired in the Uffizi.
The masterpieces destined to remain in the history of humankind and Florentine civilization have ensured that the cultural hub of the Uffizi Gallery holds the pride of being among the most important museum sites in the world.