Florence, a bit like beautiful Rome, is like one big museum. The city has some of the most important museums in the world with well-known works, which many flock to see. Some of the museums are inside charming ancient buildings and some are more modern. It is impossible to visit Florence and avoid its excellent museums, and the truth is that there is no need either. It is highly recommended to take care to include them in your schedule when visiting the city and even purchase, ahead of time, an entrance ticket in order to save the long lines that stretch outside them.
The Duomo Museum (Museo dell’Opera Del Duomo)
If you are not satisfied with the replicas displayed in the many buildings in the Florence Cathedral area, then you will want to go to the nearby Duomo Museum and see the original works, as well as other works of art by the great Renaissance artists.
Founded at the end of the 19th century, the museum has the largest collection of religious art in the world after the Vatican Museum, so there is definitely something to see here. In addition, it houses one of the world’s most important collections of sculptures. Among the many items displayed here you can find the original doors of the gates of Paradise mentioned above, the “Music Gallery” of Della Robbia, the reliefs and sculptures of Giotto’s bell tower mentioned above, some of which were sculpted by Donatello, and many more. This is definitely a recommended place to visit for art and sculpture lovers.
The Gallery of the Florence Academy of Art (Galleria dell’Accademia)
This is another of Florence’s must-see museums, although it can be said with relative confidence that it is mainly intended for those who love art, music and sculpture. This building is different from many others in ancient Florence, mainly in that it is not impressive at all, and if you don’t look for it, you can pass by it and think it is a casual building. This is the first academy in Europe for art studies, and it was founded in 1561. The academy is still active today, and apart from the museum, there is an active academic institution as well as an institute for the restoration of works of art that was founded at the end of the eighteenth century and functions to this day.
In the gallery museum you will find a variety of sculptures from the Renaissance period, the most famous of which is the famous statue of David, sculpted by Michelangelo over three years. In the museum there are many other sculptures, both by Michelangelo and by other well-known artists, such as Botticelli, the painter Paolo Occello and more. In addition to the sculptures and paintings, the museum also has a wing dedicated to ancient musical instruments. You will be able to see in it a variety of ancient and unique tools, including those that are not in use nowadays.
The Uffizi Palace and its gallery (Palazzo Uffizi)
Even for those who don’t know much about art, a visit to the Uffizi Palace is a must for anyone who comes to Florence. The beautiful palace and the museum inside display such a large and impressive variety of art that you can easily spend four or five hours there without noticing the time passing. The inner courtyard of the building is a wonder in itself, with its arches, columns and marble sculptures. Inside the museum is one of the largest collections of medieval and renaissance art in the world, and it includes works by the greatest artists of the time, including Botticelli, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci and many others.
If you want to see Botticelli’s original Birth of Venus, Caravaggio’s Binding of Isaac, Da Vinci’s Baptism and more, this is the place for you. Just try to get there early, because the line here can be extremely long. People make pilgrimages from all over the world to this museum, which is considered one of the best in the world.
Stibbert Museum (Museo Stibbert)
This is one of the most special museums in Florence, partly because it was opened to the public only recently. It has not yet reached the ears of most tourists, also because it is outside the ancient center of Florence. The villa, gardens and vast art collection were recently donated by their owner, Frederic Stewart, to the city of Florence, allowing tourists to enter them.
Throughout the museum you can see weapons and armor from all over the world, from the Middle East to Japan. It is filled with wall-to-wall artwork, beautiful antique furniture and more. You will find a reconstruction of a battle, on its horses, soldiers, armor and weapons, in a mesmerizing display. The museum also displays the cloak of the famous Napoleon Bonaparte, the one he wore at his coronation.
Perhaps unlike other museums in the city, the Stewart Museum is suitable for both children and adults. First, the setting and performances ignite the imagination of anyone, of any age. Secondly, there are interactive exhibitions that will make your heirs an active part among the historical exhibits.
Dante Museum (Museo Casa di Dante)
This museum is recommended for those of you who know (or want to know) the work of the famous Italian marine poet Dante Alighieri, who greatly influenced the Italian language and Christian theology. With reference to Dante’s works, many books were written, paintings were drawn and countless sculptures were carved.
In the museum of Dante’s house (which is not actually in his original house, but the sea tower – Binayimi certainly ignites the imagination) you can be exposed to the different aspects of Dante’s personality, that of the poet, the warrior, the politician, the lover and the patriot. The museum uses advanced technological tools in order to give you an experience as realistic as possible, one that will reveal to you a significant part of the history of medieval Tuscany and the Italian language as a whole.
