La Galleria degli Uffizi

One of the greatest collections of Italian paintings anywhere is said to be here in the Uffizi. It features famous works by (in chronological order) Giotto, Botticelli, Da Vinci, Rubens, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio. And these are just the highlights! In between are plenty of lesser known works well deserving of one's time, but difficult to fully appreciate knowing another masterpiece is just around the corner. It's said that most folks spend only a couple of hours in the entire museum; understandable since the breadth and depth of the various works is so overwhelming. 

The Uffizi courtyard

The gallery entrance

The collection starts with glitzy 2 dimensional 'Madonna and child' Gothic altar pieces from the Middle Ages - early Renaissance studies in progressively better and better attempts at perspective and realism. 

Duccio - nice try

Cimabue - better

Giotto - the master!

It then moves on to fleshy works by Botticelli, an incomplete work by Leonardo and stops at Praxiteles' statue entitled, Venus de' Medici - considered the epitome of female beauty in Elizabethan times.

Botticelli's "Primavera"

"Adoration of the Magi"

"Venus de' Medici"

The Elizabethan ideal of female beauty

And just when you can't take anymore, it winds up with a mind-numbing blast of Michelangelo and the rest.

Michelangelo's 'Holy Family'

Raphael's self-portrait

Titian's "Venus di Urbino"

I was lucky to have started early - beating the tour crowds - and well into the museum before I experienced what is called, "Uffizi feetsies" and was required to go in search of a bench and a reviving cappuccino è pasticceria. 

Those who have been here, know the sheer sensory overload one can feel. Those who haven't are in for an art history unlike any other. But I also discovered that it's very important to pace myself; more like running a marathon than a sprint. There is so much to absorb, learn, sit with...I was lucky I lasted five hours and even then I had to skip the last few exhibits - I had finally reached 'beauty burnout' and needed to get some fresh air, a bit to eat and yes! another cappuccino or two. Of course by this time it was afternoon and it's considered tacky to most Italians to order a cappuccino - better to switch to espresso or a frothy macchiato...or even better, a spritz!