The Resurrection of the ‘La Specola’ Museum

Florence’s La Specola (via Romana 17) reopens February 26 after pre-Covid closure for renovations and expansion. The works, both enlarging the space and restoring much of the collection, allow visitors to explore two new wings of the science and natural history museum. The new sections, dedicated to mineralogy in addition to depictions and dissections of plants and flowers in wax, contain never before displayed works.  La Specola (which means observatory in Italian) claims [...]

Michelangelo’s ‘Secret Room’ Open for Visits

  Opening November 15, 2023: MICHELANGELO’S SECRET ROOM. Medici Chapels Museum. Open Mondays (at 3 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6 pm), Wednesdays (9 am, 10:30 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm, 3 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6 pm), Thursdays (9 am, 10:30 am, 12 noon, 1:30 pm, and 3 pm), Fridays (3 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6 pm ), and Saturdays at (9 am, 10:30 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm, 3 pm, 4:30 pm, [...]

Free Entrance to the Accademia & New Displays

To celebrate International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8, the Accademia on via Ricasoli will be free to women visitors from 8:15 am – 1:50 pm (last admission 1:20 pm). This day was instituted to celebrate the political, social, and economic advancements of women around the world and in history, presenting an opportunity for the museum to unveil some important changes. Although most come for the statue of David, the Accademia is also [...]

‘First Act:’ Spiritual Symbology for the Environment at Pitti

  Until January 29, 2023: FIRST ACT by Marya Kazoun. Sala Bianca, Pitti Palace. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 8.15 am – 6.30 pm. Closed Monday. Admission to the Pitti Palace is €10, reduced price is €2, while on Wednesday afternoon after 3 pm a discounted entrance of €5 is offered. Using the religious sphere as her creative influence, Lebanese-Canadian artist, Marya Kazoun, unveils a contemporary interpretation in her installation, “First Act.”  Using sculpture art [...]

Free Museums on New Year’s Day in Florence

Customarily, Florence’s state-run museums offer free admission on the first Sunday of the month.  Since New Year’s Day, January 1, arrives on a Sunday, only a handful will be accessible with no-cost entrance. They are:  the Uffizi Gallery (10:45 am – 6:45 pm); the Boboli Gardens (11 am – 4:3o pm); the Academy Gallery (8:15 am – 6:50 pm); the Bargello National Sculpture Museum and the Medici Chapels (10 am – 6 pm) [...]

The Accademia Gallery’s New Summer Hours

The Accademia Gallery, home of Michelangelo’s sculpture David, his Prisoners and medieval paintings, will be open from 8:15 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. starting on June 21.  Extended summer evening hours on Tuesdays also return on the 21st, during which the museum will stay open until 10 p.m. The museum will stay closed on Mondays. Because of the new hours, visitors can now fully experience the gallery’s upgraded LED lighting as it illuminates the [...]

New Single Ticket for the Pitti Palace & Boboli

The Palazzo Pitti complex and Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli) have always been accessible via the means of separate tickets, but from May 3, it will be possible for visitors to buy single admission for Palazzo Pitti (which houses multiple galleries and museums) and the Boboli Gardens. In the summer season, the ticket will be available for €22 (€4 less when compared to two individual tickets), and in the winter season for €14 [...]

Free March 6 Museum Access & Activities

The ‘Domenica Metropolitana’ returns on March 6, a day in which all residents of the Greater Florence Metropolitan area have the opportunity to visit local city-run museums for free. Thanks to the support of GIOTTO, a brand from F.I.L.A. (Fabbrica Italiana Lapis ed Affini), citizens will also be able to take part in the numerous visits and activities scheduled in various places. Cost-free entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Santa Maria [...]

The Accademia’s Renovated ‘Sala del Colosso’ Unveiled

  The Accademia Gallery has presented the newest layout of the Sala del Colosso, the first room in the historic museum. This room was previously closed for renovation for months, and has finally reopened to the public on Tuesday, February 8. Some of the changes include a vibrant hue of deep blue painted on the walls and improvements in lighting. Compared to the previous single bright light, the room is now overall darker [...]

The ‘Duomo,’ Florence’s Cathedral, Closes to the Public

Due to lack of personnel, a number of whom are diagnosed with COVID-19 or in quarantine because of the virus, Florence’s Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, will be off-limits to tourists beginning December 27, 2021 through rest of the holiday season and extending into the New Year. The Duomo will continue to be accessible to both residents and visitors for Mass, celebrated Monday to Saturday according to following schedule: 8:30 [...]