Uffizi Gallery in Florence
4th December 2006
One of the oldest and most famous art galleries in the world, the Uffizi Gallery holds a collection of some of the most impressive artwork ever created.
Paintings from masters such as Botticelli, da Vinci and Michelangelo are found within the elaborately-designed museum, which also features a number of temporary displays such as the current Mind of da Vinci exhibition.
The gallery is housed in a building designed by famous architect Giorgio Vasari between 1560 and 1580, initially as a set of offices for high-ranking Florentine officials. Originally a private collection of the Medici family, the displays have now been open to the public for over 250 years.
The famous Vasarian corridor, an aerial walkway which connects the Palazzo Vecchio and the Palazzo Pitti, runs right through the gallery and is lined with a series of paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Portraits also line the walls of the Tribuna, an octagonal room that was itself the subject of an 18th century painting by Johan Zoffany.
A recent expansion project has seen the museum double its capacity from 139,000 square feet, providing even more space for such famous works as Caravaggio's Bacchus and Titian's Venus of Urbino.
The enduring popularity of the museum means that there are often lengthy queues outside its doors, so visitors are advised to book early and make the gallery the centrepiece of a fascinating weekend break.
© Adfero Ltd
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