Medici Gardens & Ufizzi Gallery

I was in for another big day of walking, as I finally found time to visit the Giardino di Boboli, the gardens of the Medici family, before making my way through the Uffizi Gallery. I started by wandering through the gardens completely randomly, but I was absolutely struck by the sheer wealth this family must have possessed. I’ve tried to compare it to the richest of the rich today, and I honestly struggle to think of anyone who could rival them. They had hectares of land in the south of Florence dedicated almost entirely to leisurely walks, surrounded by monuments, sculptures, gardens, and enough space to seemingly go for hours without ever having to see poor people. I spent hours wandering around, and the number of monuments and artefacts scattered throughout the gardens was almost incomprehensible. And that doesn’t even begin to account for the house itself. Even by today’s standards, it is extravagant. I struggle to imagine what the inside must look like. The whole complex is essentially a castle, complete with enormous walls surrounding the property. You can go inside, but it costs an additional fee. It is now a museum, and I’m sure it would have been fascinating, but there are other museums I’d rather prioritise while I’m here. For now, I’ll let the photos do a better job of showing just how enormous the place is.

I then made my way to the Uffizi Gallery. Getting a ticket was shockingly easy. I walked into the building, found a line of maybe ten people, bought my ticket, and walked straight in. Even the inside wasn’t particularly busy, which was a major plus. For that reason alone, I think I enjoyed it more than the Vatican Museums, which we will get to.

That being said, the museum started off rather boring. I didn’t have an audio guide, and the first section was mostly about the history of Florentine newspapers, which wasn’t exactly what I had come to see. Thankfully, it improved. I eventually reached the modern art section, where my ability to understand art was truly put to the test. I did not pass. There was a drawing of a bull with an enormous cock that I genuinely believe I could have drawn in Year 6—and probably did. Eventually, I made my way into the historical art and sculptures, which I found much easier to appreciate. I have a decent understanding of the people and events many of the works were dedicated to, whether Roman emperors, Greek and Roman mythology, or stories from Catholicism. Because of that, the pieces became much more interesting to me. It was also surreal seeing sculptures and artworks in person that I had previously only read about. The degree of skill required to produce some of these works was undeniable. Far more impressive than the child's drawing of a bull’s cock. The museum itself was enormous. You could easily spend several days there if you wanted to properly understand the history behind every individual piece. I was mostly walking through, looking at things, and taking photos, yet I still spent four hours inside. Thankfully, there was a café towards the end where I could briefly recharge with a drink. A major necessity after all the walking. The view from the top of the gallery was incredible as well, providing another great perspective over Florence. The pieces that stuck with me most were The Fall of the Rebel Angels, The Birth of Venus, and Portrait of a Man with a Medal. Each had something that made it stand out from everything else around it. Whether it was the incredible detail, the sense of three-dimensional perspective, or simply the beauty of the work, these were the pieces I found myself most impressed by.

By the end of the two activities, I was sore beyond description. I parked myself at the Irish pub for a few beers and started winding down for the night. Unfortunately, I had one more commitment: a nighttime walking tour covering some of Florence’s darker stories and history. I expected this to be pretty interesting, but the person conducting the tour was nowhere near as charismatic or engaging as the guides I’d had previously. Either that, or I was simply too tired to appreciate it.

I found myself bored for most of the tour. There were still a few interesting stories, but nothing particularly memorable, and after everything I had already done that day, I was desperate for bed. By the end of the tour, I was completely finished. I headed straight back to the accommodation and went to bed as quickly as possible.Read more