Experience timeless masterpieces from the Renaissance
Florence was at the heart of the Italian Renaissance, and your exclusive Uffizi tour with Accademia will give you a unique insight into the timeless masterpieces of this fascinating era. More than five hundred years ago, an unprecedented cultural revolution took place in the palaces, churches and workshops of the city. Geniuses such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci may be long dead, but their stories live on, while their masterpieces adorn the walls of galleries and churches.
The perfect way to begin your artistic experience is on a private tour of the Uffizi and the Accademia, two of the most amazing art galleries in the world. Exploring these extraordinary collections with your personal guide, you will understand why the world is still in awe of great artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael and Botticelli centuries later. Standing in front of a Renaissance masterpiece, you encounter not only the painting, but also the brilliant mind and captivating story behind it. Step back in time with us on your and come face to face with the geniuses of the Renaissance.
Get up close to Michelangelo’s David on our Accademia tour
The undisputed highlight of the Accademia is Michelangelo’s David, the world’s most famous statue. Your visit will bring you up-close to this iconic statue, allowing you to admire it from every angle. Despite his fame, David still has the power to astonish. The sheer size of the statue and Michelangelo’s incredible attention to detail can only be truly appreciated when seen in real life. Your expert guide will tell you the story behind the statue - how Michelangelo accomplished the seemingly impossible feat of creating a masterpiece out of a block of marble that was originally considered too damaged to be used. On your Accademia tour you’ll discover why David, who defeated the giant Goliath, became the symbol of the Florentine republic, and how Michelangelo’s creation was celebrated by the people of Florence.
As you explore the Accademia on your Florence tour, you will also see other famous works by Michelangelo, such as his beautiful and moving Slaves, which seem to struggle to escape from their marble prisons. These masterpieces, which are equal to David, are often overlooked by other companies offering Florence tours. We believe they’re unmissable, as they reveal the restless, troubled temperament of Michelangelo. The Slaves sculptures have also had a great influence on modern artists, such as Rodin.
Discover the lives of the artists and their creations in the Uffizi
On the orders of Cosimo I de’ Medici, the painter and architect Giorgio Vasari began the construction of a vast complex of uffizi (offices) for magistrates. The offices were later used to house the extensive collection of artwork belonging to the Medici family, and in the eighteenth century it was opened to the public as the Uffizi Gallery. Today it holds the best collection of Renaissance art in the world, with masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Botticelli, Caravaggio, and many more. Exploring the collections of this magnificent gallery is the perfect way to experience the history and art of the Renaissance and its main protagonists: princes, wealthy families, patrons and artists.
With our engaging guides - mostly art historians - you will discover the passions and cultural climate of the Renaissance, and the achievements in all fields of knowledge. from art to philosophy. This was the culture that formed the geniuses of the time, such as Da Vinci and Michelangelo, and led to the creation of their masterpieces.
From Giotto to Caravaggio: the extraordinary collection of the Uffizi
Our guided tour begins with innovators such as Giotto, and the groundbreaking works of the early Renaissance. Masaccio had an unrivalled talent for creating the illusion of three-dimensionality, and he had a profound influence on the next generations of artists.
The breathtaking allegorical works of Sandro Botticelli are one of the highlights of the Uffizi. As you gaze at his masterpieces, The Birth of Venus and Spring, you will learn of the highly charged symbolism and iconography of both paintings, and how the works represent the ideal of Renaissance beauty.
After admiring the works of Fra Angelico and Filippino Lippi, we reach the High Renaissance, and the masters of the age. Leonardo da Vinci was fascinated by the human body and the natural world, and his combination of scientific curiosity, technical brilliance and imagination make him utterly unique. Paintings such as the Annunciation and the Adoration of the Magi take popular themes and transform them into striking and original works, demanding the viewer’s attention. Your personal guide will share fascinating stories about his personality, his artistic techniques and his private life.
The equally captivating works of Raphael have a distinctive personal style; his exquisite Madonna of the Goldfinch could not be mistaken for the work of any other artist. His paintings also give us a unique insight into the complex world of papal politics, as you will see from his intriguing Portrait of Pope Leo X.
The sensuous Venus of Urbino by Titian, the most famous and provocative of all Renaissance nudes, is another influential work with secret symbolism to be uncovered. Works by Michelangelo provide an interesting contrast, such as his unconventional Doni Tondo, a portrayal of the Holy Family that anticipates the new Mannerist style.
The Italian Renaissance would not last forever, but it paved the way for future generations of artists. Our guided tour of the Uffizi ends with the violent world of Caravaggio, the Baroque artist whose works are as powerful and shocking today as they were when they were first displayed in the seventeenth century. The raw power and drama of paintings such as the Medusa and the Sacrifice of Isaac are all the more captivating for their contrast with the harmonious Renaissance works that preceded them.
You will conclude your journey through the art and culture of the Renaissance with a walk along the outside of the famous Vasari Corridor. This passage was originally a private walkway for the Medici, which allowed them to cross Florence in safety. Gazing into the waters of the river Arno from the Ponte Vecchio is the perfect, picturesque end to your Renaissance journey.