Art is intimidating, and few art museums are more impressive than Italys greatest vault of masterpieces: Florences Uffizi. But it doesnt have to be this way. This Uffizi tour is tailor-made to allow you to explore and discover the jaw-dropping, history-changing world of Renaissance art, whether you are a seasoned art lover or a rank amateur.
The tour, like the museum, is chronological, so after skipping the (always long) entrance lines, follow your expert, English-speaking guide on a tour ofearly Renaissance masterworks from Cimabue, Duccio, and Giotto. Through their paintings youll learn to distinguish the styles and techniques that created a revolution in the visual arts.
Next its on to classics of the High Renaissance, like Botticellis Primavera and Birth of Venus. Youll see the progression of artistic techniques, and revel in the explosion of color and perspective. But its not all art theory; youll learn about the incredible personalities and bitter rivalries of some of the biggest stars of the day like Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Finally, see the artistic legacy of the Renaissance in works from later masters like Titian and Caravaggio. When you have seen what comes before, youll be able to view their paintings in an entirely new light.
Your next stop is the Palazzo Vechio. For centuries, this was the heart of art and government in Florence -- so important that both Michelangelo and da Vinci were hired to paint murals on its walls. Your tour includes the incredibly impressive Council of 500 and an intro to the tumultuous history of Florence. You'll hear how and why the Medici family abandoned this majestic fortress, building the Vasari corridor all the way through the Uffizi gallery to their new home at Palazzo pitti.
This is more than just a tour, its a voyage through time that will make you appreciate all that it took to bring the visual arts out of the Dark Ages and into the modern world.In an intimate group of 15 people or fewer you will have unparalleled access to your guide, with plenty of time to ask all those questions that you cant find in books. This is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of art history.
