Florence is a special city even in Italy, a country rich in world-famous sights. The whole atmosphere is saturated with history; great masters of the Renaissance went here. On the streets of Florence, the paths of Michelangelo and Leonardo could intersect (such a meeting could easily end with a temperamental skirmish, the artists clashed, and only time could reconcile them). On a stone that once stood on Duomo Square, Dante liked to think (unfortunately, this boulder has not been preserved, but it's a pity, but everyone knows here the place where he stood). Savonarolâs sermons also took place on these streets.
The real gem of Florence is the Uffizi Gallery, which has gathered many great masterpieces of art.
Florence and its patrons
Florence, unlike many ancient cities, has always been built according to plan, chaos was originally alien to this city. Continuous improvement of buildings, streets and squares has become the goal of many creators of architectural ensembles. Of course, such an attitude to the appearance of the city does not do without serious material costs, but as a rule, it was not a matter of money. The richest Florentine families of Alberti, Strozzi and many others did not spare gold, trying to create a beautiful frame for this pearl of Tuscany, and at the same time to perpetuate their names.
The doctors, whose ancestors were engaged in healing, in the middle of the fifteenth century became prosperous bankers. Their donations stood out for their special generosity, and the collection of paintings and sculptures formed the basis of the future great museum, which Italy is proud of. Uffizi Gallery founded by the Medici.
City Administration Building
In 1559, one of the Medici, Cosimo I (Senior), who ruled the city at that time, decided to create a centralized governing body and assemble the entire administration in one building. He was not very learned as a man, although he sincerely revered art, but came to the idea of ââcreating a gallery later.
Interestingly, the sculptures that marked the beginning of the collection were rejected by the Vatican, and therefore donated by Pius V Francis the First. The church leadership did not claim the artistic merit of the works, but the fact that the statues depicted nude characters, it seemed sinful. At first, all these treasures were stored in the ancestral palace of Ricardi, which served as the Medici ancestral castle.
Meanwhile, in 1560, the design of the spacious palazzo began, entrusted to the famous architect Vasari. Demolition of many buildings was supposed, and their fragments were allowed to be used for the construction of a new palace. The word "Ufitsi" is translated from Italian as "office" (in the plural).
Architectural projects
The case dragged on, in 1574 the master passed away, and Buontalenti had to complete the construction, who completed the task a year later. By this time, the purpose of the building has already changed, but the name remains the same, the Uffizi Gallery. Florence was enriched by works created by the great masters and collected by the Medici family, but at first only representatives of the nobility could enjoy them. For ten years the building continued to be completed, in the end the palace turned out to be horseshoe-shaped, with a view of the river from the narrow side windows. To destroy some of the old buildings (the old Mint and the Cathedral of San Pietro Scaraggio) the architects did not raise a hand, and they entered the general ensemble. At that time, both structures were already four centuries old.
Gallery Formation
By the end of the construction, Vasari (and he was an artist, not just an architect) was aware that he was building not a palace for the city administration, but a gallery. The Uffizi was opened in the sixteenth century, and promising decisions made by the architect contributed to the most favorable lighting conditions for the future exhibition. In 1737, according to the will of Cardinal Leopoldo, the last of the Medici clan, the entire family collection became the property of the city of Florence. A century later, the museum became public. Then, in the thirties of the eighteenth century, the first inventory of the collection was compiled, which took ten volumes.
Self portraits
The Uffizi Gallery has collected many self-portraits, both ancient and modern, from which you can study the era. The basis of this collection was a series of works bought by Leopold Medici, who served as a cardinal, from the Roman Academy of St. Luke, and then it was regularly replenished. The exposition of portraiture was the first floor of the building. Thanks to this collection, modern people can get an idea of ââthe appearance and characters of great painters, Italian (including da Vinci, Titian, Veronese, Romano, Rafael, Michelangelo) and from other countries (Durer, Rembrandt, Rubens, Velazquez, Van Dyck and Karl Bryullov ) Speaking of Bryullov. His fans were Walter Scott and Kommuchi, they admired âThe Last Day of Pompeiiâ, a picture that made a real sensation in Italy before the triumph in St. Petersburg.
But Gotto, Caravaggio, and many other glorious names are also represented ...
Uffizi tribune
There is a special door in the gallery, upholstered in leather and cloth, leading to the central exhibition, called the Tribune. The hall is not very large, lit by a glass lantern in the roof and contains the most outstanding works, including sculptures and paintings from different eras and schools. In the center of the eight-walled room stands Venus, surrounded by dancing fauns and Apollo. Here is a sculpture of a harsh slave sharpening a knife. Two more Venus, this time picturesque, belong to the brush of Titian. It is believed that the Tribune has collected the best that the Uffizi gallery can offer: Raphaelâs paintings âMadonna and Pet of Goldâ, âPortrait of Pope Julius IIâ and âJohn the Baptistâ. Here is the âBirth of Venusâ by Botticelli, and several works that reveal the biblical theme of the worship of the Magi (Ghirlandaio and Leonardo da Vinci), but the real gem is the âHoly Familyâ of the Renaissance titan Michelangelo.
Uffizi losses
Italy over the centuries experienced many upheavals and wars in which not only people but also works of art were killed. The Uffizi Gallery suffered losses many times. Florence was in the way of the Napoleonic armies. The collection was damaged and partially looted during the hostilities in 1943, when the Nazis occupied the country, trying to prevent the advancement of the allied forces. Then, after the explosion of the city water supply, the lower floor was partially flooded. The trouble was also added by the terrorists who killed five people in 1993 with a bomb and harmed priceless works of art in the Niobe Hall. Some murals could not be restored.
Tips for visitors
Before attending this wonderful meeting, it is helpful to familiarize yourself with some information about what the rules are and where the Uffizi Gallery is located. Photography and filming in the halls, as in most museums, is prohibited. This is not the quirks of the administration, but a completely rational measure required to ensure the safety of the paintings. The day off is Monday, on any other days, the doors are open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. In winter, fewer people. The entrance ticket costs 9 euros and 10 cents, but everyone can enter on their birthday for free. The same applies to the beautiful half of humanity, but only on International Women's Day on March 8 (they celebrate it here too).
Itâs not worth taking any drinks with you, they wonât let them go. Off-line excursion offers from some entrepreneurial guides should be ignored. The group gathers for a long time, and it will take no less time than standing in line, and the costs will increase significantly. Itâs better to book your visit on the Internet, you only have to wait about twenty minutes, a charge of 4 euros, but you canât be late.
The backpack is best left at the hotel, they will not be allowed to go with it, and the queue in the left-luggage office is almost the same as for a ticket. The Uffizi Gallery kindly offers for 8 euros a very convenient thing called an audio guide. To take it, you need a deposit, any document with a photograph.
And do not set a goal to see everything in one visit. It is simply not possible. If there is not enough time for a multiple visit, it is better to focus on the most interesting direction in art, the Uffizi Gallery is rich in them. Feedback from acquaintances and friends who have been here will help in this.
How to find?
The museum complex is not difficult to find, itâs enough for any local passerby to say two words: âUffizi Galleryâ. The address is simple, Uffizi Square, Uffizi Palace. Actually, in Italian, it is correct to say three words: âGalleria degli Uffiziâ, but they will understand it like that. It is in the very center of the city, on the one hand the Ponte Vecchio bridge, on the other the Senoria square. The largest Florentine museum on the Arno River is located.