Hello From: Florence
Florence is a very compact and walkable city with a ton to see and do. As with other Italian cities it offers a wealth of opportunities to immerse yourself in art, culture, and history. One of the reasons that we chose to come to Italy is because of the art, culture and history, and Italy did not disappoint. In my opinion Florence is a must see on any Italian trip, whether it is a stop in a larger itinerary or a base for your whole stay. We spent 15 days in Italy and stayed in Florence for 2.5 of those days. We saw and experienced a lot but there was a ton more that we did not have time for or decided not to visit. You could easily stay a week and not see everything.
Galleria del Accademia-
Many people have no idea what this place is, but you are almost sure to know or at least heard of the very famous statue it houses. Anyone ever heard of “The David?” Of course you have!!!! Accademia is where it is kept along with some other sculptures and amazing art. I see why “The David” is so famous; The craftsmanship and detail is simply spectacular. You just cannot pass up seeing art by the masters and you never know how long they will allow some of this art to be on display.
The Galleria is located in a very unassuming and generic building on a small side street. You would most likely miss it if you did not know you were looking for it. If you came across it wandering around you would take notice of the long line of people waiting to enter. If the Galleria is high up on your list of things to visit you will definitely want to purchase your tickets online ahead of time. It is highly doubtful that you will get tickets if you walk up. Regular tickets cost 12 Euro per person.
Mobility Moment:
The Galleria is “free” to disabled people and a companion. I say free but in reality it will cost $4 because of a booking fee charged to book online. When you arrive at the building go past the line and the main entrance to the exit of the building. This is the disabled entrance and there is a curb cut to allow disabled guests to get up the step and into the building. Once inside the floor is level and easy to push on. If the second floor exhibits are open there is an elevator.
“The museum is equipped with facilities for persons with disabilities. Entrance and ticket office are accessible from Via Ricasoli 60. Each of the halls and galleries that are open for exhibition are completely wheelchair accessible. An accessible restroom is available at the ground floor, near the lift.”
Visit – Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze (galleriaaccademiafirenze.it) (official site)
When reading please take into consideration that everyone’s disability is different and so I may experience things different than a power chair user or someone with other mobility impairments. I personally am a t5 para that uses a TiLite ZRA with pneumatic wheels and a husband that pushes me through more difficult terrains.
Uffizi Gallery-
The Uffizi is one of Italy’s greatest art museums and it is surely in the conversation of top art galleries worldwide. It houses many paintings and sculptures from the masters. The most famous paintings you would know without being an art enthusiast are “Primavera” and “The Birth of Venus”. There is so much to look at in the Uffizi but we had done our research beforehand to know what we really wanted to see. Otherwise, you could spend multiple days there.
The Uffizi is located between the Arno river and the Piazza della Signore. It is next to the Palazzo Vecchio and down the road from the Ponte Vecchio and Santa Maria del Fiore. This is a very popular area to see many attractions packed within a few blocks of town. I would highly recommend visiting the Uffizi and if you wish to do so I suggest purchasing your tickets ahead of time on the official website(especially in the summer). Official ticketing page | Uffizi Galleries (official site) Admission to the Uffizi Gallery is 25 Euro per person unless you fall into the free category below.
History of the Uffizi-
The Uffizi was originally the offices of Cosimo I de’ Medici to consolidate and ease the ruling of Florence. At that time only a small portion housed the art owned by the Medici’s but as years went by more of the building was used for displaying works of art that they collected or commissioned. The Medici family ruled Florence from 1434 to 1737 and upon the death of the last Medici the majority of the family’s art was bestowed upon Florence. “The Family Pact, signed by Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, the last of the Medici dynasty, ensured that all the Medici’s art and treasures collected over nearly three centuries of political ascendancy remained in Florence. She bequeathed most of it to the Tuscan State upon her death in 1743 so that “they would remain as decoration for the State, for the utility of the Public and to attract the curiosity of Foreigners”, and it all had to stay in place and not leave Florence or Tuscany. In particular, she declared that the Uffizi Gallery was a “public and inalienable public good”, paving the way for it’s great wealth of art to be shared with all” History – Visit Uffizi
Mobility Moment-
Entrance to the Uffizi is free for disabled guests and a companion. Once inside I found it very easy to move around. Here are two websites that have a wealth of information about visiting with a disability.
Notice where the ramp is in the picture below because that is the only place other than steps to get up to the level to enter.
The Uffizi is located on the Piazza della Signora. The Piazza does have cobblestones. I found them to be pretty flat but there may be areas of difficulty or bumpiness. You should take care around the area.
Uffizi Galleries Accessibility Information | Uffizi Galleries (official website)
Services Available at the Uffizi Gallery:Wheelchairs, Bookshop, Audioguides & more (visituffizi.org)
While you are there make sure that you visit the terrace on the second floor of the Uffizi. There is a cool view and we were able to take a few fun pictures of the clock tower of the Palazzo Vecchio. You can also see the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore; Its red dome dominates the Florence skyline. You can get some other great photos from the Uffizi. Donnie was able to capture some pretty cool pictures of Ponte Vecchio from the second-floor corridor of the Uffizi. We were thankful for the great viewpoint because we decided to not physically visit because it is very touristy with wall to wall people. Basically, it is just a bridge with shops on it, albeit a very cool old bridge with a long history. We only had a few days, so we had to pick and choose what we wanted to see, and other sites ranked higher.
Duomo of Florence-
The big red dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore towers over the city and can be seen from many places. It is gorgeous from the outside with intricate sculptures and carvings and colors of red, white, and green marble. The interior is a bit sparse compared to other churches that we visited but still worth it to go inside and look around. There are some really pretty stained glass windows and intricate marble floors. What stood out most for me were 2 frescos of riders on horseback (mainly because they had horses in them and I love horses lol), “The Last Judgment” which is the fresco painted inside of the dome, and an exquisite 24 hour clock. I don’t find it as ornately beautiful as some other churches but still beautiful in a sense that it is simple yet grand at the same time.
The cathedral is part of a complex of buildings which also include the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, and Santa Reparata. We only visited the Cathedral part because the bell tower and Santa Reparata are not accessible and the Baptistry was under renovation. Instead of visiting the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo we opted to visit the Galileo Museum. The cathedral is free to visit but if you would like to visit the other buildings you must purchase a ticket. Tickets The Opera of Santa Maria del Fiore | Florence Cathedral (skiperformance.com) Also, please take note that all the buildings except for the museum are houses of worship and you will need to dress appropriately to enter. You will not be allowed to enter with bare legs or shoulders, wearing sandals, and wearing hats or sunglasses.
History of Santa Maria del Fiore-
Santa Maria del Fiore was built on the site of the Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze that was consecrated in 393. Plans for the new church were approved in 1294. Construction began in 1296 and was finally completed and consecrated in 1436. The marble facade of the building was added in the 1800’s. “The Last Judgment” the fresco that covers the inside of the dome was started by Vasari in 1572 and finished after the death of Vasari by Zuccari in 1579. The fresco was commissioned by Cosimo I de’ Medici. You can read more about the church and those who had a hand in the construction by visiting Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore | Opera Duomo Florence
Mobility Moment-
The Cathedral is accessible via an entrance on the right side of the church. The piazza outside is very flat and somewhat easy to roll around on. They are cobblestones and so may be a bumpy ride. The inside is also very accessible with marble flooring throughout and no steps in the main area.
The Baptistery of San Giovanni and Museo dell’Opera del Duomo are both accessible.
Due to the historical nature of the buildings some of them are not accessible. Giotto’s Bell Tower has 414 steps so unless you are able to climb steps you are out of luck. Santa Reparata is a crypt unless you can do stairs. There are not elevators or lifts in either of these places.
Palazzo Vecchio-
Palazzo Vecchio has been and still is the town hall and “The David” originally stood in front of it. It is incredibly decorated with ornate and elaborate paintings and tapestries covering the walls and even the ceilings in some rooms. There is much to see here but our main reason to visit was to see Dante’s death mask (it is a replica but still very cool) and the Hall of 500. Both were in the book Inferno by Dan Brown, an author we both love and have read many of his books. Side note: You would best know Dan Brown for The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons, both of which were very popular novels and both were also made into successful movies. As we meandered through the museum we came across the chart room and their collection of antique maps is pretty awesome. There’s a hidden passageway behind the map of Armenia. The chart room was probably my most favorite room of the museum, pretty fitting for someone who loves to travel.
Palazzo Vecchio is located next to the Uffizi Gallery and sits in the Piazza della Signora. The museum is very popular and you should buy tickets online to save you from standing in line for possibly hours. Musei Civici Fiorentini (comune.fi.it) I have included a screenshot from their website below. Also, the Palazzo is still working government building so make sure to check that there is not an event going on the day you wish to visit.
History of Palazzo Vecchio-
Palazzo Vecchio was built between the years 1298 and 1314. It is a Tuscan Gothic design by Arnolfo di Cambio. It has worn many hats since its construction, but its latest and maybe longest hat has been its use as a town hall, which it has been since 1872. Interesting note: Cosimo I de’ Medici commissioned Giorgio Vasari to build an above-ground walkway from the Palazzo Vecchio, through the Uffizi, over the Ponte Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti. This was so that Medici could go from his residence (Palazzo Pitti) to the government seat (Palazzo Vecchio) freely and in safety.
Mobility Moment-
“People with motor disabilities can enter the Museum through the lateral entrance in Via dei Gondi. The two main museum floors are accessible with lift while there are architectural features that deny the access to the floor of the Mezzanino (where the theatre laboratories take place), to the Arnolfo Tower and to some areas that are part of the Percorsi Segreti, as the Fourteenth-century stairway of the Duca Gualtieri and the trusses over the Salone del Cinquecento. Wheelchairs are available at the ticket office.” » Faq Muse Firenze
Tickets for disabled guests as well as a companion are free. You will still need to wait in line or go online and reserve your time. Musei Civici Fiorentini (comune.fi.it)
Palazzo Vecchio is located on the Piazza della Signora. The Piazza does have cobblestones. I found them to be pretty flat but there may be areas of difficulty or bumpiness. You should take care around the area.
Galileo Museum- Istituto e Museo di Storia della scienza
The Galileo Museum has a very cool collection of stuff pertaining to science, not just stuff by Galileo. There were so many things; To name a few categories: medicine, electricity, navigation, and then a few rooms dedicated to Galileo. One of the coolest things they have of his, is the telescope that he discovered Jupiter’s moons with and most randomly they have some of his finger bones and a tooth on display. They have an incredible amount of gizmos, gadgets, and maps through the times of the mid 1400’s to 1800’s. This museum was not something we had originally had in our itinerary, it was an audible on the play and I am so happy we visited. If you are interested in science or history I would say this is a must see.
The Galileo Museum is one block away from the Uffizi Gallery.
Mobility Moment-
I found the museum to be highly accessible with plenty of space to move around. The floor was hard and level so super easy to push on.
“All visitors with disabilities and one companion are granted free entrance to the Museo Galileo.
The disabled visitor will be charged the cost of the guided tour or workshop, if applicable.
The museum is completely accessible to visitors with limited motor skills. There is a wheelchair ramp entrance along Lungarno Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici number 2. You will need to request assistance to our staff via an intercom system.
Two elevators and two wheelchair lifts assure access to the floors for wheelchairs (up to 325 kg).
If needed, a standard manual wheelchair is available for free.
All floors within Palazzo Castellani have handicapped accessible restrooms.
Access is permitted to small dogs, that have to be held in one’s arms or carried inside a bag or pet carrier. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome, provided that they are kept on a leash.” Accessibility and facilities – Museo Galileo
We were able to see all the places in this article in one and a half days in Florence. As I said earlier, Florence is a very walkable city and you can see a lot of things with a little planning. As with every Italian city don’t forget to get yourself some gelato! I hope that this article helps you on your travels and I would love to hear about your experiences in Florence!
Safe travels,
-Missy & Donnie
