Uffizi Gallery Private Tour with Skip-the-Line Access
About this activity
Highlights
- Skip-the-line access to the Uffizi Gallery
- Guided tour with an expert art historian
- Explore masterpieces by Botticelli and Michelangelo
- Personalized attention in a private group
- Discover the history of the Medici family
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line entry to the Uffizi Gallery
- Guided tour with an expert art historian
- Personalized attention in a private group
- Food and beverages
Itinerary
There is no better way to discover the Uffizi than with a private guide! The tour will cater specifically to your interests and move at your own pace. Meet your history and art passionate guide right outside of the Uffizi Gallery on Piazzale degli Uffizi. Your guide will be holding a sign with your name on it. Then, simply follow your guide through the entrance as you skip the long lines. Your guide will take you on a captivating journey through time, as you explore the most famous works of Renaissance art from the thirteenth to eighteenth century. Any questions you have along the way, your friendly guide will be happy to answer.
The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most sought-after art museums in the world, with over 2,000 masterpieces of priceless value. Your guide will lead you through the various halls ensuring you visit the most famous and fascinating works of art. Starting in chronological order, your tour will begin with the “birth of the Renaissance,” in the thirteenth century. Admire the gothic paintings of “Madonna and the child” with their bright colors and golden accents. Your guide will point out the masterpiece by Giotto, the first artist who broke barriers with his three-dimensional elements. Next, you will venture into international gothic art, another turning point in the Renaissance. During this period, artists began telling a story in paintings, instead of simply depicting characters. The best example of this is “Adoration of the Magi,” by Gentile da Fabriano.
Your guide will then lead you to, “Battle of San Romano,” which vividly tells the story of a battle between Siena and Florence in 1432. Learn more about this fascinating masterpiece, its artist, and the cultural factors which led to this change in artistic style from your expert guide! During this period, artists continued experimenting more with three-dimensional space, and you can witness this progression in 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 Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael.
At this point in time, one of the most famous Renaissance artists emerged - Sandro Botticelli. Spend plenty of time exploring the halls in the Uffizi dedicated to his mystic and truly unique works of art. Your guide will give you vivid and intriguing descriptions of his most famous masterpieces, including: “Primavera,” and “Birth of Venus.” You will continue through the halls chronologically, stopping at various famous works of art. Enjoy the views of Florence from above the tall windows as you walk through the hallways. It is incredible to think these artists from hundreds of years ago admired the same views in which you can see now! Among the masterpieces you will visit, you will spend plenty of time at Michelangelo’s, “Rondo Tondi,” and Leonardo da Vinci’s, “Annunciation,” and “Baptism of Christ.”
Then, your guide will lead you through three giant halls containing precious works by Raphael, Titan, and Caravaggio. Each artist has diverse styles and intriguing personal histories... As your guide dives into the lives of these men and their progressive art, feel free to ask any questions! At the end of your 2-hour private tour, feel free to explore the Uffizi independently. This private tour will undoubtedly make you fall in love with Renaissance art, the heart and soul of Florence.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- This tour is conducted in English; please ensure you understand the language.
- The Uffizi Gallery is wheelchair accessible; please inform us in advance if you require assistance.
- Children under 6 years old can join the tour free of charge when accompanied by an adult.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes as the tour involves walking and standing.
- Photography may be restricted in certain areas; please follow the guide's instructions.
- Arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes early to ensure a timely start.
Cancellation policy
0All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
- Stroller Accessible
- Wheelchair Accessible
Good to know
- The departure time of this tour is subject to the Museum availability. We will do our best in order to confirm the departure time that you selected. However, if it's not possible, you will be contacted as soon as possible via e-mail or over the phone in order to agree an alternative departure time
- Please note: To enter the Uffizi Gallery, all participants are required to carry a valid ID. Non-EU visitors are required to bring their passport. Museum staff may refuse entry if a valid ID is not presented.
Traveler reviews
Spend a few hours seeing some great art
Wow, the crowds were deep. there are lots of good paintings and sculptures to see. The rooms are well laid out and the tour guide we had was full of knowledge and facts.
Highly recommended
Although planned was a visit of just under 2 hours we finally stayed almost 3 hours. Our guide, Carmen, made us a very pleasant visit, she really knows the contents of this museum. From the meeting point until we arrived at the museum (about 20 minutes) he told us part of the history of the Uffizi and their relationship with Florence; already in the museum we toured the most important rooms (to see the complete museum it takes many days) and explained in detail and with some anecdotes the most important works. Highly recommended. Thank you very much for this great visit!!
Private Tours should include time to look at the paintings, not just listen to guide
The Uffizi Gallery is amazing and we were very glad to walk the Gallery and take in the paintings. Our tour guide, Greta, was so-so. We arrived at the meeting point 15-20 minutes prior to our tour time and before the gallery opened. Many tour groups were organized and gathering. At a couple minutes before our tour time, I walked around the area where we were to meet to try and find our guide, who was supposed to be carrying a sign with my name. Finally she showed up right at 9 am, but then we were at the end of the "skip the line" line. Inside the Gallery, of course it is crowded and people merge in areas. Our guide would walk ahead of us and not turn around, which was weird. In each room, she walked to the side of the room, talked about one painting for about 8-10 minutes, and then said, "Let's move on." Each time, I said, "Wait, I want to look at the painting." (because we were not close to the painting when she was talking). She would say, "Of course.", but this continued in each room. Her "presentation" was thorough for about seven to ten paintings, but she only talked about one piece per room and skipped rooms, and she didn't allow time for us to stand back and study the paintings. When a guide is talking, I feel I need to look at the person and acknowledge what they are sharing, but she seemed to want us to look at her the entire tour and not look at the art. After our tour, we walked back through all the rooms in the Uffizi Gallery since we had not had time to look at the art on our "tour".
Uffizi tour guides for company retreat group
We hired Ciao Florence Tours as part of our company retreat trip itinerary in Florence and we couldn't have chosen a better service. Our private tour guides Alessandro and Tiziana were truly passionate about the history of Florence as well as the history behind the most important artistic works in the Uffizi Gallery. They kept everyone engaged throughout the tour, answering all the questions with enthusiasm and being flexible on time. Everyone had a lovely time. Thanks again Valentina, Alessandro and Tiziana.
Brilliant Guided Tour of Ufizzi
We actually took three private tours with Ciao Florence Tours. This one was the fabulous Ufizzi Gallery. Our guide, Giacomo was literally perfect. He is very knowledgeable and did a fabulous job navigating us through this huge museum. We hit all the highlights and also other elements that were of special interest to us. We never felt rushed and he explained in detail the artwork, the imagery, the style and techniques. Would highly recommend Ciao Florence Tours - all three tours we took with this company were excellent. Giacomo took us thru Ufizzi and Academia and was outstanding.