Bargello Museum (Museo del Bargello) Tickets

For lovers of art and history, there is no more special place to visit than Florence's Uffizi Gallery. Open to the public since 1765, this former magistrate's office on the banks of the Arno welcomes some two million tourists a year. The Uffizi's collection is laid out in chronological order from the 13th up to the 17th century, so visitors get to experience the evolution of Italian art, from the introduction of realism and perspective of Cimabue and Giotto up to to the High Renaissance of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, and finally to the Baroque chiaroscuro of Caravaggio. A visit to the Uffizi is a unique chance to commune with the protagonists of the Italian Renaissance. When planning a trip here, always remember that the Uffizi Gallery is closed on Mondays.

Palazzo Pitti was built for Renaissance banker Luca Pitti. A loyal *consigliere* to Cosimo de Medici, Pitti wanted a mansion built to rival those of the mighty Medici. He did pretty well: about 100 years after its construction the Medici acquired it and moved in. With a grand courtyard, Royal Apartments, the Palatine Gallery and a high Baroque interior design, this is a worthy Renaissance palace.

The Medici Chapels were built by and for the Medici family, who bankrolled much of the Renaissance and ruled the Florentine Republic for generations. These two chapels belong to the Basilica of San Lorenzo - a church that dates back to the 4th century AD. In addition to being the burial place for 49 members of the Medici clan, these chapels contain three of Michelangelo's most beautiful sculptures.