From left: Sandro Botticelli's 'The Birth of Venus'; Caravaggio's 'Medusa'
FLORENCE, Italy — As the origin of some of the world’s most highly regarded and celebrated Renaissance masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello Sanzio, Michelangelo and Donatello, the inspirations behind the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” of pop culture, Firenze, or more popularly known as Florence, should never be missed in any art junkie’s itinerary when visiting Italy.
Although Italy is famous for its beaches especially during summer, a whole day is recommended when visiting Florence’s world-renowned Galleria degli Uffizi or Uffizi Galleries adjacent to the 14th century Piazzale degli Uffizi sitting on the banks of the Arno, central Italy’s most important river next to Tiber. The artworks give a glimpse of a bygone world: the Golden Age of Florentine life and the artists' quest for perfection to express their faith and honor God.
But with its many galleries, including one dedicated to self-portraits alone, where should one start?
Among the hundreds of artworks in the multi-storey Uffizi, which is also among the biggest museums with the most art collections on the planet, here are some of the biggest artists and artworks that one should not miss:
Botticelli (Sandro Botticelli, Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi)
“The Birth of Venus” (1445-1510)
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The author in front of “La Primavera” (“Spring;” 1445-1510)
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Left: “Madonna and Child with the Child Saint John and Two Angels” (1455-1470) and “Madonna of the Sea” (1475-1480); right: “Madonna and Child with Saints”
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“Virgin and Child, and Angels” ("Madonna of the Magnificat") (1445-1510)
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“Virgin and Child enthroned with the saints Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist, Francis of Assisi, Catherine of Alexandria, Cosmas and Damian” (1445-1510)
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“Madonna of the Rose Garden”
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“Annunciation; Christ the Man of Sorrows” (1489-90)
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“Portrait of a Man with a Medal of Cosimo the Elder”
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“Pallas and the Centaur”
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“Madonna and Child with the Child St. John and Two Angels”
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Piero della Francesca
“Triumphs of the Duke and Duchess of Urbino” (1416/17-1492)
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Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio)
From left: “Bacchus” (1571-1610); “Medusa”
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Giotto (Giotto di Bondone)
“Madonna and Child with Saints”
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Da Vinci (Leonardo da Vinci or Leonardo)
“Annunciation” (1452-1519)
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“Adoration of the Magi” (1452-1519)
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The author in front “The Baptism of Christ” (1452-1519) – painted together with Andrea del Verrocchio
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Michelangelo (Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, Michelangelo Buonarroti or Michelangelo Simoni)
“Holy Family” (1475-1564)
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“Holy Family with the Young John the Baptist” (1505-1507)
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Raphael (Raffaello, Raffaello Sanzio or Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino)
“Madonna of the Goldfinch” (1506)
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“Portraits of Agnolo and Maddalena Doni”
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Rembrandt (Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn)
“Self-Portrait”
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Beato Angelico (Fra Angelico)
“Glorification of Mary” (1395-1455)
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Titian
“Venus of Urbino”
Rubens (Pieter Paul Rubens or Paul Rubens)
“Self-Portrait”
"Judith and Holofernes" (1626-34)
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"Portrait of Philipp, Justus Lipsius and Jan Woverius"
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Van Dyck (Antoon van Dyck, Sir Anthony van Dyck or Anthony van Dyck)
“Self-Portrait”
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"Equestrian portrait of the Emperor Charles V" (around 1620)
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Uccello (Paolo Uccello, born Paolo di Dono)
“Battle of San Romano” (1397-1475)
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Durer (Albrecht Dürer or Dürer)
“Adoration of the Magi” (1471-1528)
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From left: “Madonna of the Pear” (1526); “Portrait of his father” (1490)