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The Uffizi Museum (Galleria degli Uffizi) in Florence has a magnificent collection of Italian painting and sculpture. Compared to "gazillion rooms" Louvre or British Museum, the Uffizi is a more manageable museum experience with kids, enhanced by a helpful museum staff.

Here's our tips for families visiting the Uffizi, and some favorite artworks to run into.

Courtyard

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In the courtyard, while waiting to pick up your tickets, cheque out the statues of famous Italians – Donatello da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Machiavelli, Galileo and more.

Beginning your visit, by climbing the grand staircase, past two violent aboriginal Roman domestic dog statues, to the second floor.

Botticelli paintings

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Rooms 10 -fourteen are devoted to Botticelli, displaying ii of his most famous paintings Allegory of Spring (Primavera) and Nascence of Venus.

Also don't miss Madonna of the Pomegranate – an angelic Christ child holding a pomegranate, sitting on Mary'due south lap, and Madonna of the Magnificat – Mary crowned by angels (shown above).

Uccello – Battle of San Romano

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Paolo Uccello painted iii dissimilar scenes of this victorious battle between Florence and Siena in 1432. Information technology'south quite a free-for-all – armored knights trying to stay on horseback, riders toppled by lances. Room viii

Tip: The other two paintings of the Battle of San Romano by Uccello are in the Louvre in Paris, and National Gallery in London.

Adoration of the Magi paintings

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The Florentines deputed many paintings called "Adoration of the Magi," scenes of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem, bringing gifts to the Christ kid.

One of the nearly famous is the Adoration of the Magi past Gentile da Fabriano (in a higher place). See if you can spot these animals in the painting – monkeys, chetah, horses, dogs, ox, donkey, birds.

Find more Adoration of the Magi paintings past Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, and Hugo van der Goes in different rooms around the Uffizi.

Leonardo da Vinci

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Da Vinci did not complete many paintings, but what there is – it'due south extraordinary. The iii Leonardo works in the Uffizi were washed while he lived in Florence, apprenticed to the artist Verrocchio

His Annunciation, a scene of an angel announcing to Mary she volition exist the mother of Christ – is sublime. The angel, kneeling in the garden and property a lily, gracefully extends his hand in greeting. Virgin Mary looks up from her book in surprise.

In the Baptism of Christ, the overall painting is by Verrocchio, merely Leonardo painted the glowing angel at the far left.

Adoration of the Magi, though unfinished, is a masterpiece. Look at the infant Jesus reaching out to touch the gift from one of the three kings, and riders on horseback in the groundwork. Of all the Adoration of the Magi paintings, this is like no other.

Medici portraits

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Information technology'south fun to see what kids from a wealthy dynasty looked like in the Renaissance. Medici children portraits were painted by court painter Bronzino – Francesco, Maria (shown higher up) Giovanni and Bia.

Too look for Thousand Duchess Eleonora of Toledo, decked out in shining ropes of pearls and golden chugalug, her arm around Giovanni'southward shoulder, and Grand Duke Cosimo I wearing pointy armor.

Caravaggio

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Teens should check out Caravaggio'southward Head of Medusa, and dramatic Sacrifice of Isaac, besides equally Judith Slaying Holfernes (lady knew how hold a sword) by Artemisia Gentileschi.

Angels

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The Uffizi has so many paintings with angels – it'south too many to count.

Some angels take vivid multi-colored wings (Coronation of the Virgin, Saints and Angels by Lorenzo Monaco, higher up) or white feathers and flowers (Annunciation by Botticelli); other angels are adorable chubby cherubs with curly hair – Musical Angel (to a higher place).

Medici glaze of artillery

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After Medici grand knuckles Cosimo I assumed command of Florence and moved into the Palazzo Vecchio, he ordered construction of the Uffizi next door, for government and guild offices.

His son Francesco turned the Uffizi into an art gallery, and later generations added more artworks to the Medici collections. In the 18th century, the last Medici ancestral the museum to the people of Florence.

Look for the Medici coat of arms (cerise balls) throughout the Uffizi – on wooden doors, gold decorations, painted ceilings. In addition, find Cosimo I emblems also – turtle and ram.

Tips for enjoying the Uffizi with kids

  • Reserve tickets well in advance –
  • You'll want a ticket with a timed entry, and make your reservation well in advance (more than a calendar month before your visit).

    Tip: If possible, reserve the first timed entry in the morning, when the museum is less crowded.

    The least expensive online reservation is the Musei Firenze website – Uffizi Gallery. (Tip: Page default is Italian, merely select English at the bottom of the page)

    Get most xv min. to half an 60 minutes before your timed entry to redeem the printed confirmation with actual tickets at the Reservation Ticket Role, west side of the courtyard.

    Another reservation option: Skip the Line: Uffizi Museum Tickets

    Or, accept a private family bout: The Uffizi for Families

  • Program your visit –
  • Tip: When we visited, some artworks were in unlike rooms than listed in our guides, and some galleries may be airtight.

    Ticket is skilful for one entry but – that is, you tin't go in and out to take a break.

    No food, bottles or cans in the museum. There is a cafe for snacks, cold drinks, dejeuner stuff, and stellar views of the Palazzo Vecchio across the manner.

    Photos (no flash) are okay, but selfie sticks are non allowed. And please be considerate of others while taking snaps.

    Strollers are permitted – in that location are broad corridors, but rooms practice get crowded, especially with large tour groups gathered around a certain painting.

    Ask directions – The museum attendants are accessible and speak English. Looking for a specific creative person, just inquire directions. In our experience, they were cheery and helpful.