During your trip, you can’t miss out on visiting the best museums in Florence. That’s why we’ve brought you a list of these spaces so that you can go and learn about the history, art and culture of the city, Italy and the whole of Europe.
1. Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence
This list of the best museums in Florence begins with the museum that houses one of the most famous and enchanting works of art in the world: Michelangelo’s David. The original work is right inside the museum, but the city has two other replicas, one just outside the Accademia Gallery and the other in the Pizzale Michelangelo.
Founded in 1784, the museum of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence also has works by other great names in art, such as Botticelli, Bronzino and Bernardo Daddi. There are also special rooms with works on specific themes, such as the Museum of Musical Instruments and the Hall of the Colossus, which houses paintings dating back to the 15th century.
Address: Via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50129 Florence.
2. Uffizi Gallery in Florence
Built by the Italian painter Giorgio Vasari at the request of Duke Cosimo I de Medici, the Galleria degli Uffizi has undergone several structural changes.
From being home to Florence’s administrative offices, the place has gained a theater, a tribune, as well as rooms with specific themes such as the Geographical Maps Room and the Mathematics Room. There you’ll find works by Botticelli, such as “Birth of Venus”, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122 Florence.
3. Palazzo Vecchio in Florence
The palace, which was the official residence of the Medici family during their dynasty in Florence, is now home to the city’s town hall and is open to the public.
Here you’ll find enchanting works of art, interesting secret rooms and passageways, as well as rooms that were used by members of the family, not to mention a private chapel and a hall that houses precious works.
Address: Piazza della Signoria, 50122 Florence.
4. Medici Chapel in Florence
The Medici Chapel was built by Michelangelo and Bernardo Buontalenti between the 16th and 17th centuries, and the bodies of important personalities from the city’s history rest here. The main rooms of the Medici Chapel are the Chapel of the Princes and the New Sacristy.
There, you can admire the richly detailed structure as well as some incredible works of art, such as Michelangelo’s enchanting sculpture, the Allegory of Time, and many others, like the Medici Madonna.
Address: Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 6, 50123 Florence.
5. Galileo Museum in Florence
This science-focused museum was founded in 1930 by the University of Florence and occupies 3 floors of Palazzo Castellani. It has an incredible collection of optical, astronomical, mathematical, navigational and surgical artifacts. Among them is the telescope used by Galileo in 1609 to discover Jupiter’s satellites and the lunar mountains.
Address: Piazza dei Giudici, 1, 50122 Florence.
6. Palazzo Pitti in Florence
Our last recommendation for a museum to visit in Florence is Palazzo Pitti, which was built in 1458 and served as the official residence for the great dukes of the Tuscan region.
The place has rich galleries such as the Galleria d’Arte Moderna, the Galleria Palatina and the Museo degli Argenti. There you’ll see works by artists from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, jewelry, clothes and objects dating from the 17th, 18th and 20th centuries. You can also stroll through the beautiful Boboli Gardens, one of the most famous in the country.
Address: Piazza de’ Pitti, 1, 50125 Florence.
How to save on tickets for paid attractions in Florence?
The city of Florence has some incredible tourist attractions. And to see some of them, you’ll need to have your ticket in hand. So, to save a lot on your ticket purchase, our tip is to buy in advance and online, preferably all on one site.
We’ve traveled all over the world and, on our last trips, we found a great company. Well, it was precisely this Florence Tickets website that we used. As well as being one of the biggest ticket sellers in the world, it’s very secure.
And you can buy all your tickets in one place. It’s worth noting that it’s always cheaper to buy in advance and online, to avoid queues and to avoid wasting your travel time.
Save money on your trip to Florence:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Florence cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Florence. You will find out the best areas and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
