HOW ARRIVE TO UFFIZI GALLERY:
Exit from your bed and breakfast Home in Palace and going toward the city center after 240 meters turn left onto Via della Colonna, after 220 meters turn right into Via della Pergola, after 400 meters turn right into Via Sant'Egidio, after 100 meters turn left onto Via Folco Portinari After 90 metres turn right into Via dell'Oriuolo after 90 meters turn left on Via del Proconsolo, after 200 meters turn right into Via Dante Alighieri, after 90 meters turn left in Piazza di San Martino, after 40 mt continues in Via dei Magazzini, after 80 meters turn right into Piazza della Signoria, after the square you have arrived at the gallery uffizi.

HISTORY OF UFFIZI GALLERY:
The Palazzo degli Uffizi brought together under one roof the administrative offices, the Tribunal and the state archive (Archivio di Stato). The project that was planned by Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany to arrange that prime works of art in the Medici collections on the piano nobile was effected by Francesco I, who commissioned from Buontalenti the famous Tribuna degli Uffizi that united a selection of the outstanding masterpieces in the collection in an ensemble that was a star attraction of the Grand Tour.

Over the years, further parts of the palace evolved into a display place for many of the paintings and sculpture collected by the Medici family or commissioned by them. After the house of Medici was extinguished, the art treasures remained in Florence by terms of the famous Patto di famiglia negotiated by Anna Maria Lodovica, the last Medici heiress; it formed one of the first modern museums. The gallery had been open to visitors by request since the sixteenth century, and in 1765 it was officially opened to the public.

Because of its huge collection, some of its works have in the past been transferred to other museums in Florence — for example, some famous statues, to the Bargello. A project is currently underway to expand the museum's exhibition space by 2006 from some 6,000 metres² (64,000 ft²) to almost 13,000 metres² (139,000 ft²), allowing public viewing of many artworks that have usually been in storage.

In 1993, a car bomb exploded in Via dei Georgofili and damaged parts of the palace, killing five people. The most severe damage was to the Niobe room, the classical sculptures and neoclassical interior of which have been restored, although its frescoes were damaged beyond repair. The identity of the bomber or bombers has never been established, although some suspect the Mafia.

Today the Uffizi Gallery is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Florence. In high season (particularly in July), waiting times can be up to five hours. Visitors who reserve a ticket in advance have a substantially shorter wait.


INFORMATIONS ABOUT UFFIZI GALLERY:
Opening hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday 8,15 – 18,50

Closed Monday, New Year’s Day, May 1st and Christmas Day.

Tickets:
Full Price: € 6,50
Reduced: € 3,25

Booking:
Firenze Musei, Tel: 055 294883
Booking charge: € 4,00