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7 Masterpieces Not to Miss at the Uffizi Gallery
Sean Finelli
Florence’s Uffizi Gallery is home to some of the world’s most treasured masterpieces, including Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. We wouldn’t be a tour company if we didn’t recommend taking an Uffizi Gallery guided tour, but if you are going to see it on your own, make sure you admire these must-see masterpieces at the Uffizi Gallery
Pro Tip: Make sure you don’t miss anything on your trip to Florence. Bookmark this page in a “Florence” folder on your browser. Then, you can circle back to it at a café in Florence before going inside the Uffizi. Check out our guide to Florence for more planning resources and our article on the best Florence tours.
Must-See Masterpieces at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence
The small city of Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and no trip would be complete without visiting the Uffizi Gallery. There, you’ll find masterpieces by the likes of Botticelli, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and more.
We highly recommend taking an Uffizi Gallery guided tour, of course—it makes for a rich and enlightening experience of this incredible artwork. That said, you can certainly do it on your own. Just be sure to stand in front of these must-see masterpieces at the Uffizi Gallery and let your jaw drop!
7 Masterpieces Not to Miss at the Uffizi Gallery
7. Madonna del Cardellino by Raphael
The Madonna del Cardellino, also known as Madonna of the Goldfinch, was painted by Raphael (Raffaello in Italian) in 1506 as a wedding gift for his friend Lorenzo Nasi.
Looking at the painting, the Madonna is shown as young and beautiful. She is clothed in red and blue; the red signifies the passion of Christ and the blue signifies the church. Christ and John are still young babies. John holds a goldfinch in his hand, and Christ is reaching out to touch it.
The painting suffered damage during an earthquake in 1548. After various restorations projects, with the most recent completed in 2008, you can now enjoy the history of this artwork
Location in Uffizi: Hall 66.
6. Annunciation by Leonardo Da Vinci
The Annunciation was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci and Andrea del Verrocchio between 1472 – 1475. The painting depicts the moment Angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will conceive and give birth to a son who will be named Jesus, “Son of God”.
This was a very popular subject for paintings at the time. An interesting detail to look out for is the lilies that the angel is holding, which symbolize Mary’s virginity.
Location in Uffizi: Hall 15.
5. Venus of Urbino by Titian
The Venus of Urbino was completed by Titian in 1538 and commissioned by the Duke of Urbino, Guidobaldo II Della Rovere. The painting was a gift from the Duke to his young wife.
It represented the allegory of marriage: eroticism, fidelity, and motherhood. The eroticism is evident in the representation of Venus, the goddess of love. The dog at her feet represents marital fidelity and the girl looking through the chest in the background represents motherhood.
Location in Uffizi: Hall 83.
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Florence Walking Tour with Statue of David
Michelangelo is considered the greatest Renaissance artist and the David statue is widely known as his masterpeice. Join our English speaking guide as you skip the line to Accademia and see David. Then venture out to see the center of Florence including the Duomo (outside), Baptistry Doors, Leather Market, and more. Admissions included.
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Skip the line Uffizi Gallery Tour
The Uffizi Gallery is the most visited museum in Florence for good reason. Join our English speaking licensed Uffizi guide for a journey through the Medician Renaissance. Learn all the stories behind the very art that brought our world out of the darkness. All admissions included.
Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Florence Guide for more info.
4. Medusa by Caravaggio
Medusa was commissioned to Caravaggio by Cardinal Francesco Maria Bourbon del Monte in 1597 who then gifted it to the Grand Duke Ferdinando I de’ Medici.
In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon that had venomous snakes as hair and the power to turn anyone who gazed at her to stone. Perseus was given a shield by the goddess Athena to avoid looking at her as he decapitated her. Caravaggio’s painting portrays the moment of Medusa’s decapitation when she realizes that her head and body are no longer one.
Location in Uffizi: Hall 90
3. The Holy Family with Young St. John the Baptist by Michaelangelo
The Holy Family by Michelangelo
To call Michelangelo a gifted artist is an understatement. He was born with talent and dedicated his life to being the best. However, he felt that painting was of the “lesser” arts. A mistake in marble could not be hidden nor reversed. Painters, on the other hand, had many tricks they could apply that were not options for sculptors.
And still, he has a few paintings. Doni Tondo or The Holy Family is one of a handful of free-standing (panel) paintings Michaelangelo worked on and, apparently, the only panel that was completed. It was commissioned by merchant Agnolo Doni to commemorate the birth of his child.
It’s a beautiful work of art that commemorates a sort of golden era for Renaissance art in Florence. This is when Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo were all living in the city and treated like the celebrities they were. A definite must-see for your visit.
Location in Uffizi: Hall 35
2. La Primavera by Sandro Botticelli
La Primavera or Spring in English is considered to be one of the greatest paintings ever produced. That statement goes far beyond its beauty and artistic expression.
Along with the Birth of Venus, La Primavera openly depicts pagan figures and symbolism. Art outsiders may ask, “Are pagan symbols not used all the time in works?” Yes, they are. Just not for over a thousand years (A.D 380/392 to the mid-15th century) on the public stage in a Catholic city. People were burnt at the stake for less.
La Primavera defied the oppression of artistic expression, which arguably may have inspired a massive leap forward in art history. Some of the greatest artists that would ever live followed the career of Boticelli.
The Birth of Venus is undoubtedly more famous than the La Primavera. However, the latter is considered a more complex and intricate work of art. The field of La Primavera contains between 150-200 different species of flowers all individually painted. Boticelli went to painstaking lengths to add incredible detail to this masterpiece.
Don’t miss either of these paintings while visiting the Uffizi. Plan on spending 10 minutes or so admiring each one. Put the camera down and really appreciate them. These paintings are the very reason I started The Roman Guy and, eventually, The Tour Guy tour companies.
Location in Uffizi: Hall of Botticelli (10-14)
1. Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli
Painted by Sandro Botticelli between 1482 and 1485 for the Medici family, the Birth of Venus has become one of the world’s most famous Renaissance masterpieces.
In the painting you can observe Venus, the goddess of love, standing on a seashell in the center. To the right of her, Zephyr, the god of the west wind is blowing her to the shore. There, Pomona, the goddess of spring, is waiting with a cape to clothe the newborn deity. Take a moment to soak up the beauty of this magnificent masterpiece.
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