Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery, located in Florence, is one of the most famous and visited museums in the world. Founded in 1560 by Cosimo I de’ Medici, the complex was designed by Giorgio Vasari. Originally conceived as the seat of the main Florentine magistracies, the Uffizi soon became a place destined to house the extraordinary art collection of the Medici family. The building has a U shape, with a long corridor connecting the Palazzo Vecchio with the Lungarno. This corridor, known as the Vasari Corridor, was built in 1565 to allow the Medici family to move between their residences safely. Vasari also designed the octagonal tribune, a richly decorated room that houses a selection of artworks and naturalistic curiosities, becoming one of the symbols of the museum. The Uffizi Gallery houses a collection of priceless artworks ranging from the 12th to the 18th century. Among the most famous masterpieces are works by Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, and Botticelli. Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and “Primavera” are among the most admired and iconic paintings in the museum, attracting millions of visitors from around the world every year. In addition to paintings, the Uffizi boasts a remarkable collection of ancient sculptures and a vast collection of drawings and prints, housed in the Cabinet of Drawings and Prints, one of the most important in the world for the quality and quantity of works collected. The history of the Uffizi is closely linked to the history of Florence and the Medici family. Francesco I de’ Medici, son of Cosimo I, was a great lover of art and sciences, and significantly contributed to the enrichment of the collection. Under his direction, the top floor of the Uffizi was transformed into a private gallery to collect artworks, cameos, medals, hard stones, ancient and modern statues, as well as naturalistic rarities and scientific instruments. With the end of the Medici dynasty in 1737, the collections were inherited by the Lorraine, who maintained the inalienability bond imposed by Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, the last member of the family. This act allowed the artistic heritage to remain intact to this day. Over the centuries, the Uffizi Gallery has undergone numerous restoration and expansion interventions. During the Napoleonic period, many works were transferred to France, but much of the heritage was recovered after Napoleon’s fall. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, the Uffizi were opened to the public, becoming one of the first modern museums. In the 20th century, the gallery was further expanded and reorganized, and in 1993 a car bomb exploded near the museum, causing significant damage to the artworks and structure. However, thanks to immediate and careful restoration work, the museum was able to reopen to the public in a short time.