The art museums in Florence hold some of the most famous works of art that you absolutely need to see during your trip. In this article, I am going to share with you some of my favorite art museums in Florence that I have already visited and those I wish to visit in the future. Keep in mind that Florence is known mainly for sculptures and statues, so you will find a lot of those in the following museums.

I have another travel guide about the iconic art in Rome and Vatican City that you definitely need to check out.

The best art museums in Florence

1- Uffizi Gallery

Inside Uffizi: “Birth of Venus” by Botticelli

My absolute favorite! I had the opportunity to visit the Uffizi during my last trip to Florence, and it was one of my favorite museums ever. The gallery is huge and holds a great collection of thousands of paintings and sculptures.

The Uffizi is the art museum that holds the most paintings in Florence, while the rest are more about statues. You can find paintings by Da Vinci, Caravaggio, Botticelli, Rafaello Michelangelo, and hundreds of other famous Italian artists. The Uffizi is also home to the original Birth of Venus and Spring by Botticelli, Testa di Medusa, and Baccus by Caravaggio, and the unfinished Adoration of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci.

You can grab your skip-the-line entry ticket through the Get Your Guide app here.

2-The Palazzo Vecchio

Palazzo Vecchio overlooking Piazza della Signoria

A free open-air museum with a gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi as well as a replica of the David statue by Michelangelo. This hall is just magnificent. When I visited, there were a great number of artists sketching the statues around, and there was a lovely vibe that made me feel an incredible sense of belonging.

3- The Galleria dell’Accademia

Home for the real “David” by Michelangelo, the musical instrument museum, as well as the statue hall. This is another gallery that you need to book a ticket for sooner, as it is a very popular destination.

This museum is more for those who know a bit about art than the average person, just because it holds many great artworks that are underrated and less popular. However, David is worth the visit, and it blew my mind how huge the statue was.

4- Opera del Duomo Museum

I personally did not visit this museum, and I didn’t know of its existence until after my trip. But looking at the pictures of the museum online, I would’ve surely enjoyed learning more about the pieces inside and discovering the history of the museum itself, as the Duomo looked surreal from the outside.

5- The Bargello Museum

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Also known as the Palazzo del Bargello or Palazzo del Popolo, it is a former barracks and prison in Florence that has been turned into a museum. Primarily a sculpture museum. The museum holds early Michelangelo marbles, Giambologna bronzes, and Cellini’s work. The Bargello Museum was Italy’s first national museum to open in 1865, so that makes it worth the visit.

6- Palazzo Strozzi

Palazzo Strozzi is a very famous museum that holds a wide collection of paintings from the Renaissance as well as some contemporary artworks, including the work of Jeffrey Lynn Koons (as a temporary exhibition). I also skipped this one because I had in mind the artworks I wanted to see, and visiting Palazzo Strozzi wasn’t really that interesting to me at the time.

Conclusion

Florence is a beautiful city that holds a significant number of museums. If I were to pick only one art museum to see in Florence, I’d definitely visit The Galleria dell’Accademia and see the iconic David, as it is Florence’s proudest work of art. However, make sure to, once in your lifetime, go inside Uffizi and discover the amazing paintings and sculptures. Enjoy creating <3