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Uffizi Gallery history | From Medici's office to art museum

Uffizi Gallery - Florence's 16th century Magistrature building with Renaissance legacy

One of the most important art galleries in the world, the Uffizi Gallery's history dates back to 1560. Today, the Uffizi Gallery is an invaluable part of Italian culture and history, with its exhibitions displaying a variety of artwork from different eras. You can not only appreciate the beauty and skill it took to create these pieces, but also gain insight into the cultural movements that occurred during those times. Uffizi is a must-visit for art aficionados and history buffs alike.

1560: Cosimo I de Medici commissioned Giorgio Vasari to construct Uffizi as the headquarters of Florence's administrative and judicial services.

1565: Giorgio Vasari designs the U-shaped building and constructs the secret Corridor (Corridoio Vasariano) connecting Uffizi to Pitti Palace.

1574: Following Vasari's death, work is taken over by Alfonso Parigi and Bernardo Buontalenti.

1581: Uffizi is opened by Francesco I de' Medice as an art gallery.

1584: Buontalenti finishes the Tribuna, an octagonal room displaying the Medici family’s private collection.

1769: Uffizi was made open to the public thanks to the Family Pact of 1737.

1865: Uffizi was declared a national museum by Vittorio Emanuele II.

1943: Uffizi suffered major damages due to World War II but the majority of artworks were saved due to evacuation efforts.

1966: Uffizi underwent major renovations and expansions.

1989: The Nuovi Uffizi (New Uffizi) renovation project to modernize the halls and increase the display space is set into motion.

1993: On 27 May 1993, the Sicilian Mafia carries out a car bomb explosion in Via dei Georgofili damaging parts of the museum.

2021: Following another renovation that led to an addition of 14 new rooms and a display of additional 129 artworks, the Uffizi reopens.

Detailed history of the Uffizi Gallery

The origins

16th Century

Cosimo I de Medici commissioned Giorgio Vasari to build the Uffizi as Florence's administrative center. The ground floor housed Magistrates' offices, while the first floor accommodated administrative offices and Grand Duchy workshops. Connecting passages to Palazzo Vecchio and Pitti Palace were added. After Vasari's death, Alfonso Parigi and Bernardo Buontalenti completed the building. In 1574, Francesco I de' Medici organized the first museum exhibit on the second floor, now home to iconic Renaissance works.

Office to museum

17th Century

In the 17th century, Uffizi transformed into its present museum form. Between 1658 and 1679, western corridor was decked up with frescoes. Grand Duke Cosimo III, from 1696 to 1699, decorated the corridor overlooking the River Arno with religious frescoes. Renowned ancient statues, including the Medici Venus and the Wrestlers, were relocated from Rome's Villa Medici to Florence, placed in the Tribune under Bernardo Buontalenti's direction.

Uffizi opens to the public

18th Century

In 1737, the end of the Medici dynasty prompted the bequeathal of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany to Francis of Lorraine. In 1743, Anna Maria Luisa de Medici signed the Family Pact, ensuring the preservation of artworks in Florence. The Uffizi Gallery officially opened in 1769 under Francesco’s successor, Leopold II, with a new entrance by Zanobi del Rosso. The collection was reorganized for educational purposes. In 1779, the Neoclassical Niobe Room, designed by Gaspare Maria Paoletti, housed statues from the Villa Medici in Rome.

Uffizi becomes a National Musuem

19th Century

The Uffizi Gallery underwent renovations and became a national museum in 1849 under Vittorio Emanuele II, featuring notable additions like "The Birth of Venus" and "The Annunciation." Leopold II added 28 statues (1842-1856), later transferring Renaissance statues to the National Museum of Bargello during Florence's capital years (1865-1871). Post-WWII, despite damages, evacuation efforts preserved most artworks. In 1889, the theatre was split into two exhibition spaces.

More famous Uffizi artworks

Renovations and expansions

20th Century

In 1956, architects Michelucci, Scarpa, and Gardella revamped the gallery rooms. Extensive renovations and expansions followed in 1965, including restoring the Vasari Corridor. This corridor, linking Uffizi to Palazzo Pitti, opened in 1991. The 1989 Nuovi Uffizi project modernized and expanded display space, covering lighting, air conditioning, and security updates. Despite a 1993 Mafia car bomb damaging parts of the Uffizi, impacting the Niobe Room and destroying five artworks while damaging 30 others, the gallery has been successfully restored and remains open to the public.

Modern Times

21st Century

In 2006, the Uffizi Gallery expanded its exhibition space from 6,000 sq m to nearly 13,000 sq m, showcasing artworks previously in storage. The Nuovi Uffizi project (2015-2017) further expanded into the Florence State Archive, increasing viewing capacity to 101 rooms. Despite a 150-day closure in 2020 due to the pandemic, Uffizi remained a top global art museum. Reopening in May 2021, it added 14 rooms and exhibited 129 additional artworks, aiming to provide representation for historically marginalized groups.

Construction of Uffizi Gallery**

The Uffizi Gallery's construction was commissioned in 1560 by Cosimo I de Medici, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, as a multifunctional complex to house administrative offices ("uffizi" in Italian). Giorgio Vasari, a prominent architect of the time, was tasked with its design, employing a U-shaped layout. After Vasari's death in 1574, Alfonso Parigi and Bernardo Buontalenti took over, completing the project.

The architectural style reflects Renaissance grandeur and is characterized by Doric elements. The gallery's distinctive features include the Vasari Corridor, connecting it to the Pitti Palace, and the Tribuna, an octagonal room showcasing the Medici family's treasures. The construction, steeped in historical significance, melds functionality with artistic elegance, contributing to the gallery's enduring legacy.

Medici Family's influence

The Medici family, prominent bankers, a political dynasty and rulers of Renaissance Florence, were lovers of art. The Medici family provided financial security to some of the most famous artists in history, giving them the freedom to excel. Their patronage nurtured artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, whose masterpieces became highlights of the gallery. The Medici family's expanding art collection quickly became the catalyst for transforming the Uffizi from a magistrate office complex into a gallery.

Uffizi is currently 25th on the list of one of the most visited art galleries in the world and continues to be a major tourist attraction in Florence. Uffizi's exhibitions showcase artwork from all periods, ranging from ancient Greek sculptures to 20th-century masterpieces. A beautiful example of Renaissance architecture, the Uffizi continues to be a major source of pride for the city. Its impressive collection, combined with its rich history, makes it one of the world's most renowned art galleries.

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Frequently asked questions about Uffizi Gallery history

The construction of the Uffizi Gallery began in 1560 and was officially opened in 1581, making it one of the oldest art museums in the world.

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