Museums special: Accademia & Uffizi combo tour - monolingual small group tour

Looking to discover the most in one day? This tour takes you to Florence’s treasures of the Renaissance - the Accademia and the Uffizi, plus includes a short walking tour of the main sights of the city. Head to Via Cavour 36 Red, where your local, art-loving guide will be waiting for you! Then, follow your guide to the nearby Accademia Galleria (about a 5 minute walk), and skip-the-line upon entry.

At one of the most famous galleries in the world, your guide will usher you past the long line with skip-the-line passes, and you will begin on your journey in time to the Renaissance era…
First, your friendly and expert guide will bring you to the famous Hall of Prisoners. This hall is lined in Michelangelo’s forever unfinished sculptures. Your guide will explain this unique form of art called “non-finito,” in which you can experience the emotions of the characters, trapped in marble for eternity. Take a moment to admire the exact spots where the genius, Michelangelo, worked with his chisel and hammer. Your guide will share the interesting stories of each of the “Prisoners” in this hall, as the suspense builds to reach the finale - “David.”

At the end of the hall, your guide will introduce you to the unmissable "David," dominating above the tiny viewers. Weighing over 12,000 pounds and at 17 feet tall, it is one of the largest, and most important pieces of art of all time. Discover the secrets behind this epic sculpture, while you learn more about Michelangelo and his intriguing life. Did you know Michelangelo was only 26 years old when he finished “David”? Your guide will be there to answer your questions.

Then, your guide will lead you to some of the other important masterpieces found in the Accademia Gallery. You will visit the intriguing and complex sculpture, “Rape of the Sabines,” by Giambologna. Then, you will visit various works of art by Renaissance masters such as Sandro Botticelli, Jacopo di Cione, and Pacino di Buonaguida. With a new appreciation for these masters of art, you will exit the Accademia Gallery ready to discover more of what Florence has to offer!

Finish your “Best of Florence” tour in the heart of Florence’s Renaissance glory - the Uffizi Gallery. Follow your guide ahead of the lines, as you enter one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world! Your guide will lead you through the elegant halls and rooms in chronological order, from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century - making sure you spend the most time at the most famous works, out of the nearly 2,000 masterpieces showcased in the Uffizi. Between halls, you can admire ancient Roman and Greece sculptures, the frescoed ceilings, and the lovely views from the large windows.

Your Uffizi tour will begin in the 13th century, the birth of the Renaissance era. Discover fascinating Gothic artworks covered in gold, and beautifully depicting images of Madonna and the child. The breakthrough into the Renaissance began with Giotto, who used three-dimensional elements in his masterpiece, forevering changing artistic style.

Next, your guide will lead you to the hall of International Gothic masterpieces, most notably, “Adoration of the Magi,” by Gentile da Fabriano. This was another turning point, when art began to tell a story, instead of simply depicting characters. Your guide will explain this exciting time in history in a vivid, storytelling manner.
Then, continue through the centuries into the 1400s, when artists began experimenting with three-dimensional space. The best example of this progression in art can be found in “Battle of San Romano,” by Paolo Uccello. Your guide will point out two of the most famous works of art in the Uffizi, “Madonna with Child and Two Angels,” by Filippo Lippi; then, “Dukes of Urbino,” by Piero della Francesca. These artists began to idealize the features of men and women in paintings, which greatly influenced later artists including the magnificent da Vinci and Raphael.

It is impossible to visit the Uffizi without seeing the extensive and fascinating Botticelli collection, with their mystic scenes of nature. Spend plenty of time admiring the two most famous paintings, “The Birth of Venus,” and “Primavera.”
Continue to the heart of the Renaissance, with works of art by da Vinci and Michelangelo. Although the paintings in the Uffizi are not their most famed works, it is still emotional to be inches away from masterpieces by men of their prestige. Enjoy learning all about the artists and the works, “Tondo Doni” by Michelangelo; and “Baptism of Christ” and “The Annunciation” by Leonardo da Vinci.
The Uffizi Gallery will truly open your eyes to historic art, and you will undoubtedly finish this tour with a new appreciation for Renaissance art and the heritage of Florentine locals. Feel free to remain inside the Uffizi for as long as you would like after your tour has finished!