Detailed review by ausdot
The Uffizi houses a wealth of artwork, all of which is an immensely valuable part of Italy's cultural heritage. For the art historian, it is a "must see". For almost everyone else, it's questionable whether the time it takes to get through the gallery's doors is really worth it.
This is not the opinion of a philistine. I have studied art, and my partner is a history buff with a special interest in Italian art. We spent several hours in the Louvre and the Prado and could easily have spent twice as long, but the Uffizi did not "grab" us in the same way. In fact was a real disappointment, and we were left wondering why we had bothered to queue for nearly 3 hours to get in.
One problem was the lighting. I do understand that low lighting is preferable to protect the paintings, but the Louvre and the Prado both managed to provide enough light to make the paintings visible! In the Uffizi, it was hard to make out any detail in the pervading gloom, even though it was possible to get quite close to most of the paintings. Both the other galleries also provide a lot of information on plaques beside their paintings and sculptures, whereas the Uffizi provides almost nothing. Add to that the down-at-heel state of the building, and it is not a place one feels like lingering.
Of course, we all know most of these masterpieces very well from reproductions - perhaps too well, because in many cases I found the "real thing" a big disappointment, the colours much more muted than I remembered. This may have been partly due to the inadequate lighting, but it may also be due to the fact that reproductions were made several years ago and the paintings are now in need of restoration. Or perhaps it's just that the copies have been "enhanced" more than a little. Whatever the reason, my visit to the Uffizi is my least favourite memory from what was otherwise an awesome visit to Florence. If time is limited, I would recommend visiting almost any other gallery in the city before this one!
Galleria degli Uffizi5
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