Uffizi
One of the first modern museums, housing Medici art collections.
The Uffizi Gallery is a prominent art museum adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria in the Historic Centre of Florence, Tuscany, Italy. It is one of the most important Italian museums and the most visited, also among the largest and best-known in the world, holding a collection of priceless works, particularly from the Italian Renaissance. After the ruling House of Medici died out, their art collections were given to the city of Florence under the Patto di famiglia negotiated by Anna Maria Luisa, the last Medici heiress.
- location
- Florence, Tuscany, Italy
- type
- Art museum
- known_for
- Italian Renaissance collection, first modern museum
- visitors_2016
- Over two million
Lore & Background
The top floor became a gallery for the family and their guests, including their collection of Roman sculptures. The cortile is considered the first regularized streetscape of Europe, with Vasari emphasizing its perspective length through continuous roof cornices and unbroken cornices between storeys. Niches in the piers were filled with sculptures of famous artists in the 19th century.
Reader's Guide
The Uffizi Gallery holds a collection of priceless works, particularly from the Italian Renaissance, and is one of the first modern museums. Its significance stems from the Medici family's art collections, given to Florence under the Patto di famiglia by Anna Maria Luisa. Works are available for remote viewing on Google Arts and Culture.
Did You Know?
- The Uffizi was originally built as administrative offices for Cosimo I de' Medici, hence the name 'uffizi' meaning 'offices'.
- The cortile is considered the first regularized streetscape of Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Uffizi Gallery located?
The Uffizi sits in the Historic Centre of Florence, Tuscany, Italy, immediately adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria.
What is the Uffizi Gallery most famous for?
It holds one of the world's most important collections of Italian Renaissance paintings and works on paper. It is also widely cited as one of the first true modern public museums.
How did the Medici art collections end up in the Uffizi?
When the last Medici heir, Anna Maria Luisa, died without a successor, she negotiated the Patto di famiglia, which stipulated that the family's art holdings would be gifted to the city of Florence rather than dispersed or sold abroad.
Why is the Uffizi considered a landmark in museum history?
It is recognized as one of the earliest institutions to open a private noble family's art collection to the general public, essentially establishing the model for the modern public museum.
How popular is the Uffizi Gallery among visitors?
The gallery welcomes over two million visitors annually, making it the most-visited museum in Italy and one of the largest and best-known art museums worldwide.
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