Small as it is, Florence looms large on the world’s ‘must-sees’ list – primarily for its positively indecent treasure chest of Renaissance art.
With priceless statues, sculptures, and architecture to rival the finest Botticelli littering practically every street corner, the Tuscan city is a living museum. Its fine institutions make for great outings anytime of the year. Therefore, when you fancy a real museo, these are our favorites.
Galleria degli Uffizi: Best Italian Renaissance Art
This world-class art museum is a Florentine rite of passage. Lapping up the energizing vibe – buskers, mime artists, singers, tourists – in the elongated courtyard by the entrance is as much part of the experience as losing yourself in the 16th-century palace’s gargantuan maze of 100-odd rooms.
The gallery spans from Ancient Greece to 18th-century Venice, but its standout feature is the world’s largest collection of Italian Renaissance art. Moreover, the Corridoio Vasariano, a 1km-long elevated passageway, links the Uffizi with the Palazzo Pitti across the river. The sustainability-driven Uffizi Diffusi project scatters Uffizi masterpieces across less-trodden galleries in Tuscany in a bid to share Florence’s heavy tourist load.
Manifattura Tabacchi: Best ‘Non-Museum’ Experience
Convention flies out the window at this contemporary arts center, an exciting regeneration project inside a 1930s tobacco-processing plant and cigarette factory near the main city park. Counter-culture art, fashion, and design exhibitions in its rolling NAM (Not a Museum) arts program are a brilliant contrast to anything you’ll ever see in Florence’s ancient centro historico (historical center).
Experiential exhibits in some of the 16 hangars already restored – Manifattura Tabacchi is a work-in-progress – include cutting your own 4-minute vinyl or USB key in a factory elevator-turned-studio, arts-and-crafts workshops led by resident creatives, and craft-beer sessions. Architecture buffs, note that the complex is a sensational example of Italian Rationalist architecture.
Museo delle Capelle Medicee: Best Medici Razzle-Dazzle
For serious glitzy razzle-dazzle, visit the Medici Chapels Museum, the burial place of the Medici dynasty since 1429. The Medici bling is so excessive that it’s hard not to ogle in disbelief at the riot of polychrome marbles, granite, and glittering semi-precious stones adorning the funerary tombs. No less than 49 dynasty members are buried here, three of which rest beneath haunting, voluptuous funerary sculptures by Renaissance maestro Michelangelo.
Museo degli Innocenti: Best Post-Museum Drinks
The shiny sky-blue, glazed-terracotta medallions of swaddled babies adorn the facade of Florence’s former Ospedale degli Innocenti. The round arches and Roman capitals designed by Brunelleschi in 1421 make this the first Renaissance building in Florence. Inside, state-of-the-art museum exhibits narrate the moving tale of Florence’s foundling hospital, which cared for unwanted children from 1421 until 1875.
End your visit with coffee or an aperitivo as the sun turns the city pink on the panoramic terrace of the museum’s gorgeous rooftop Caffé del Verone.
Galleria dell’Accademia: Best Celebrity Nudes
One of the top reasons people come to Florence is to see this gallery built to house the world’s most famous nude. Michelangelo sculpted David from a single block of marble, and the subtle details – the veins in his sinewy arms and the change in expression as you pace around the statue – are mesmerizing.
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo: Best for Cathedral History
No museum provides such insight into Florence’s celebrity cathedral complex starring the Duomo with its iconic cupola. The story is told through a mesmerizing collection of priceless sacred treasures. Additionally, a spectacular life-sized reconstruction of the duomo’s original facade looms large in the main hall.
Palazzo Strozzi: Best for Families
The contemporary art at this 15th-century Renaissance palazzo captures everyone’s interest. Themed hands-on workshops aimed at families accompany each blockbuster exhibition, immersing families into the vibrant world of renowned artists.
Museo Villoresi: Best for Artisan Craftsmanship
Adding a heady note to any museum day, the Museo Villoresi explores the world of artisanal perfumery with interactive exhibits and a scent library. Intimate tours culminate in a beautifully fragrant terrace garden, showcasing a variety of aromatic plants, trees, and herbs.
This article was first published on Oct 15, 2021, and updated on Dec 7, 2021.
