One of the many things that drew me to Florence for my semester abroad was the city’s deep connection to art. Being the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is home to countless artworks that can only be seen in person here. Because of this, I am trying to visit as many art museums as I can. Here are my thoughts on the first five I went to:

Cenacolo di Andrea del Sarto and Cenacolo di Sant’Apollonia:
I went to these two museums with my art history class and I’m glad I did because they are kind of hidden gems I may not have found on my own. Both of these museums hold massive frescoes depicting the Last Supper among other great works by some of the Renaissance’s more overlooked painters. The Cenacolo di Andrea del Sarto has a fresco and sketches by artist Andrea del Sarto and Cenacolo di Sant’Apollonia has an amazing fresco by Andrea del Castagno. Though these two museums are much smaller than the others on this list, I would say the work in them is really impactful and worth a look for sure.

Andrea del Sarto’s Last Supper

Andrea del Castagno’s Last Supper

Uffizi Gallery:
The Uffizi is definitely Florence’s most famous museum and it’s easy to understand why. I went with my roommates on a free admission day and we had to wait in a short line but it was worth it. It was fantastic to see so many legendary paintings in real life when I grew up looking at them in books. The Uffizi has dozens of themed rooms based on art movements/artists and it’s easy to move at your own pace. My personal favorite sections were the Baroque section which holds works by Artemisia Gentileschi and Caravaggio as well as the rooms dedicated to Botticelli. There is so much artwork and detail in this building that I recommend going twice if you can.

Ceiling at the Uffizi Gallery

Calumny of Apelles by Sandro Botticelli at the Uffizi

Galleria Dell’Accademia:
I ended up visiting this gallery a few hours after the Uffizi on the free admission day and by the time I got there, there was no line at all. This museum is famous for being the home of Michaelangelo’s world renowned sculpture David, but it has so much more. Leading up to where David is, my roommate and I enjoyed looking at a selection of some of Michaelaneglo’s unfinished works where we could see his process. My personal favorite part was an entire room absolutely packed full of plaster casts of carved portrait busts.

Michaelangelo’s David in the Galleria Dell’Accademia

Sculpture Room at the Galleria Dell’Accademia

Museo Nazionale del Bargello:
This was the first museum I visited in Florence. Not only does the Bargello have an awesome array of thousands of sculptures and historical artifacts, but the building itself is stunning. The Bargello is the oldest public building in Florence and there are murals, stone carvings, and details that show its history. In all the museums, but especially the Bargello, do not forget to look up at the highly decorated, gorgeous ceilings. My favorite part of this museum was an entire room dedicated to detailed bronze sculptures, many of which were of animals and mythological stories. Also, they had a section with medieval and Renaissance jewelry and weaponry which was super interesting.

Details at the Bargello

Sculpture of a Dog at the Bargello

Overall, I highly recommend taking advantage of the free admission days that state museums in Florence have on the first Sunday of every month. Even though the tickets are very affordable, and sometimes you can find student discounts, it’s nice to save that money to spend in the gift shops. There is so much to learn about Florence’s culture and history through its art and if you want to get to know the city, I think taking a peek in a gallery or museum is a great place to start.

Here is a full list of the museums that you can get free admission to and when: https://cultura.gov.it/domenicalmuseo

Written by: Kyler, Spring 2025 Florence student from St. Norbert College