Uffizi Gallery, Florence - museum description

Florence is a special city even in Italy, a country rich in sights of world significance. The whole atmosphere is imbued with history, here the great masters of the Renaissance walked. On the streets of Florence, the paths of Michelangelo and Leonardo could cross (such a meeting could easily end in a temperamental skirmish, the artists clashed, and only time was able to reconcile them). On a stone that once stood on the Duomo Square, he liked to meditate on Dante (unfortunately, this boulder is not preserved, but it's a pity, but the place where he stood, know everything here). The sermons of Savonarol also passed on these streets.

A real pearl of Florence - the Uffizi Gallery, which has collected many great masterpieces of art.

Florence and her philanthropists

Florence, unlike many ancient cities, has always been built according to plan, this city is chaotic from the outset. Constant improvement of buildings, streets and squares was the goal of many creators of architectural ensembles. Of course, this attitude to the appearance of the city does not do without serious material costs, but for money, as a rule, it did not stand. The richest Florentine families Alberti, Strozzi and many others did not spare gold, trying to create a beautiful frame of this pearl of Tuscany, and at the same time and perpetuate their names.

The Medici, whose ancestors were engaged in healing, in the middle of the fifteenth century became prosperous bankers. Their donations stood out with special generosity, and a collection of paintings and sculptures formed the basis of the future great museum, which Italy is proud of. The Uffizi Gallery is based on the Medici.

Construction of the city administration building

In 1559, one of the Medici, Cosimo I (Senior), ruling the city at that time, decided to create a centralized authority and collect the entire administration in one building. Man, he was not very learned, although art was sincerely revered, but the idea of creating a gallery came later.

It is interesting that the sculptures that laid the foundation for the collection were rejected by the Vatican, and therefore donated by Pius V to Francis the First. The claims of the church authorities were not caused by artistic merit of the works, but the fact that the statues depicted naked characters, it seemed sinful. At first all these treasures were kept in a family place in the palace of Ricardi, which served as the Medici family castle.

Meanwhile, in 1560, the design of a spacious palazzo, commissioned by the famous architect Vasari, began. It was supposed to demolition of many buildings, and their fragments were allowed to be used to build a new palace. The word "Ufitsii" is translated from Italian as "office" (in the plural).

Architectural projects

The case dragged on, in 1574 the master died, and Buontalenti completed the construction, which coped with the task in a year. By this time the appointment of the building had already changed, but the name remained the same, the Uffizi Gallery. Florence was enriched by the works created by the great masters and the works of the Medici family assembled, but only the representatives of the nobility could enjoy them at first. For ten years the building continued to be completed, eventually the palace in the plan turned out to be horseshoe shaped, with a view of the river from the windows of the narrow side. Destroy some of the ancient buildings (the old Mint and the Cathedral of San Pietro Scarajo) from the architects the hand did not rise, and they entered the general ensemble. At that time, both facilities were already four centuries old.

Forming a gallery

Already by the end of the construction of Vasari (and he was an artist, and not just an architect), he realized that he was building not a palace for the city administration, but a gallery. The Uffizi were discovered in the sixteenth century, and the promising decisions taken by the architect contributed to the most favorable light conditions for the future exposition. In 1737, according to the testament of Cardinal Leopoldo, the last of the Medici family, the entire family collection became the property of the city of Florence. In another century the museum became public. Then, in the thirties of the eighteenth century, the first inventory of the collection was compiled, which occupied ten volumes.

Self-portraits

The Uffizi Gallery has collected many self-portraits, both ancient and modern, on which you can study the era. The basis of this collection was a series of works purchased by Leopold Medici, who served as a cardinal, at the Roman Academy of St. Luke, and then it was regularly replenished. The first floor of the building became the place of the exhibition of portrait painting. Thanks to this collection, modern people can get an idea of the appearance and the characters of the great painters, Italian (including da Vinci, Titian, Veronese, Romano, Rafael, Michelangelo) and from other countries (Durer, Rembrandt, Rubens, Velasquez, Van Dyck and Karl Bryullov ). By the way, about Bryullov. His admirers were Walter Scott and the Commie, they admired "The Last Day of Pompeii", a picture that made a real furore in Italy before the triumph in St. Petersburg.

But Giotto, Caravaggio, and many other famous names are also represented ...

The Uffizi Tribune

There is in the gallery a special door, upholstered in leather and cloth, leading to a central exhibition, called the Tribune. The hall is not very large, it is 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 is Venus, surrounded by dancing faunas and Apollo. Here, too, is the sculpture of a stern 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: Raphael's paintings "Madonna with a Chippie" "Portrait of Pope Julius II" and "John the Baptist." Here is the "Birth of Venus" by Botticelli, and several works that reveal the biblical theme of the adoration of the Magi (Ghirlandaio and Leonardo da Vinci), but the real gem is the "Holy Family" of the Renaissance titan of Michelangelo.

Losses of the Uffizi

Italy over the centuries has experienced many upheavals and wars, in which not only people died, but also works of art. Many times, the Uffizi Gallery suffered losses. Florence was on the way of the Napoleonic armies. The collection was damaged and partially looted during the fighting, which took place in 1943, when the Nazis occupied the country, trying to prevent the advance of the Allied forces. Then, after the explosion of the city water main, the lower floor was partially flooded. Bede added terrorists who killed in 1993 a bomb of five people and harmed the priceless works of art in the hall of Niobe. Some murals could not be restored.

Tips for visitors

Before you visit this wonderful collection, it is useful to read some information about what the rules are and where the Uffizi Gallery is located. Photo and filming in the halls, as in most museums, is prohibited. This is not the quirks of the administration, but quite a rational measure, which is required to ensure the preservation of paintings. The weekend here is Monday, at any other day the doors are openly open from half-nine in the morning to seven in the evening, but it's better to arrive early, there are a lot of visitors, and queues are formed, which will last at least an hour (and sometimes much longer). There are fewer people in winter. The entrance ticket costs 9 euros and 10 cents, but on the day of birth everyone can go for free. This also applies to the beautiful half of humanity, but only on the International Women's Day on March 8 (here it is also celebrated).

No drinks should be taken with them, they will not be allowed. Offers excursions to bypass the queue coming from some enterprising guides, should be ignored. The group is going to take a long time, and it will take as much time as standing in the queue, and the costs will significantly increase. It is better to book your visit on the Internet, you will have to wait only twenty minutes, the extra charge is 4 euros, but you can not be late.

The backpack is best left in the hotel, it will not be allowed, and the queue in the storage rooms is almost the same as for the ticket. The Uffizi Gallery kindly offers for 8 euros a very convenient thing called audio guide. To take it, you need a deposit, any document with a photo.

And do not set a goal to see everything in one visit. It's just impossible. If there is not enough time for a multiple visit, it is better to focus on the most interesting direction in art, they are rich in the Uffizi Gallery. Feedback from friends and acquaintances who have been here will help in this.

How to find?

The museum complex is easy to find, it is enough for any local passer-by to say two words: "Uffizi Gallery". The address is simple, the Uffizi square, the Uffizi palace. Actually, it's correct to say three words in Italian: "Galleria degli Uffizi", but they will understand it as well. It is in the heart of the city, on the one hand the bridge of Ponte Vecchio, on the other is the area of Señoria. The largest Florentine museum on the Arno River is located.