I could tell you that visiting the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy is a must.
And the fact that 10,000 people visit it each day, rated the number one museum in Florence.
But that does not justify the why.
Why is it that this art museum is so greatly acclaimed? What if I am not as intrigued by art as other visitors-- should I even consider seeing it?
Well, one thing is for sure: it is not your “typical” art museum.
Artistic creativity can be captivating for some, but for others, it can be challenging to find meaning and purpose in each individual piece.
And then there are people, like me, who walk through the galleries with an observant eye to each art display and move on to the next one within a minute.
Although difficult to guarantee it will equally entertain any visitor, everyone can draw their own perspective relative to their personal experience and appreciation of the art.
Most importantly, you will encounter the art with a “modern eye”.
Interpreting art today from as far back as the 14th-century and Renaissance period really proves that no matter how old, we are still connected to the stories and artists of the past, who depicted the human condition and experience through illustration.
The Uffizi is located in Piazzale degli Uffizi, neighboring Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, so it is central to several of the main attractions in Florence. There is also a really nice view behind the building, adjacent to the Arno River, where there is a nice view of the famous Ponte Vecchio.
In touring the Uffizi Gallery, I personally decided to purchase my ticket at the front desk, located past the entrance on the side of the grandiose building. You can pay in advance online, purchase an annual pass, or even get a Firenzecard, which functions as a pass for multiple museums in Florence.
Keep in mind that the Uffizi, like several other museums, is closed on Mondays. If you plan on buying tickets at the front desk, you should get to the museum early in the morning because the lines could get very long.
After buying the tickets, you have to go through a metal detector upon entering the exhibitions and then led to a room where you can pick up a map to tour the museum. The maps are really helpful in finding particular artists and the locations of their pieces.
Then, you would have to ascend two flights of stairs to enter the galleries.
This is where you enter the world of Western Art and travel back in time to the age of the Renaissance.
Just to give a bit of background, Cosimo de’ Medici, one of the largest figures in Italian banking and politics at the time, wanted to have the Uffizi built as a building that would included offices for other officials. “Uffizi” is Italian for “offices”, which was its initial purpose.
Giorgio Vasari was the architect he appointed for this grand project, attributing to the location of the building by the Palazzo Vecchio—the town hall.
The Medici family helped shape Florence the way we see it today, and their historical reign can be seen in the art and building themselves. In other words, what artists recorded in their paintings and sculptures still speak a historic yet present truth about Florence, explaining the human experience under the political rule and lifestyle of that time and the present.
We serve as witnesses of stories told of the Middle Age and Renaissance past, as well as interpreters of modern meaning and application. We do not have to like walking through art galleries to understand that there is underlying significance in each piece.
One of the key things to realize about art, whether it intrigues or bores us, is this: its timelessness.
Something about walking through long hallways, with frescoed ceilings, statue-lined aisles, and artist-categorized galleries, places the viewer in awe in trying to understand the talented genius behind the art.
Some of the greatest artists of all time have their artwork in this museum, including Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello Sanzio (Raphael), and Michelangelo Buonarroti.
Top, Left to Right: Primavera by Sandro Botticelli; Medusa by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio; Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci
Bottom, Left to Right: Portrait of a Man with a Book by Giovan Battista Moroni;
Adoration of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci; The Duke and Duchess of Urbino by
Piero della Francesca
Among the incredible works that can be found in the Uffizi is an octagonal room known as the Tribune, which was used for the favored art and jewelry pieces of Francesco I. It is still, to this day, preserved in its original form and is a gem of the museum.
One of the world-renowned pieces in this museum is The Birth of Venus, made by Sandro Botticelli. This may be the most famous piece housed in the Uffizi Gallery, detailed in each stroke of color and breathtaking in size.
This is The Birth of Venus, one of the most famous paintings in the world, completed by Sandro Botticelli.
During my experience there, I met Patricia and Joseph Taylor, a couple on vacation in Italy from New Jersey.
It was their first time visiting, and they were completely blown away by their experience at the Uffizi. To them, it was so surreal to be able to see the artwork in person that they had heard about for years growing up.
The timelessness of the meaning and beauty of the pieces, as well as the names of those who created them, cannot be forgotten by modern society. People from all over the world wish to bear witness to the records of societal progress.
In Patricia Taylor’s words: “I think it’s magnificent.”
She told me that she took an art history course while she was in college many years ago, and it was a shock to her to be able to see the art she had only seen in textbook pictures.
An incredible experience for many, Patricia Taylor recalled, “To see The Birth of Venus is fabulous.” The relevance of the artwork remains present beyond the life of the author and each subsequent generation.
After going through all the galleries, I wanted to know what a local thought not only about the Uffizi, but the treasures it holds that are hundreds of years old.
I spoke to Gabriele Giovannelli, who has been on the museum staff for ten years, to see what his perspective was when it came to the modern eye of a Florentine.
One of the first things he told me was, “It’s a beautiful place and I see many people from different countries…”
He loves his job because he has gained so much appreciation for the beauty of the art.
Seeing many people travel to this museum from all over the globe has opened his eyes as a local and employee to not only value the art, but also the diverse cultures it brings together.
He then further explained to me what he enjoys so much about this special place: “Be(ing) with people—I like to share things with people—experience. It’s beautiful to see all the works.”
At the end of the day, everyone has their own motives and perspectives in observing and interpreting art. The piece itself can mean something different to each individual, just as the experience in visiting the Uffizi can.
If you decide to visit the Uffizi, here are a few tips: take some time to go through the artwork and ask yourself about how the piece makes you feel, what it makes you think, and then place yourself in the shoes of a Renaissance giant.
It is not like you can walk into an art gallery that has some of the most famous paintings and sculptures in the world just any day. Their authors helped mold Florence as a city, as well as world history, art, and knowledge.
You have the opportunity to walk through galleries that will transport you into the past to discover the rarity and beauty of the timelessness the modern eye of the Uffizi provides.
The question here now is: why not?