Piazzale degli Uffizi (Uffizi Courtyard), Florence
The Uffizi Courtyard is a grand and elegant space in the heart of Florence, framed by the historic Uffizi Gallery. Before its transformation, this area was far from refined鈥攈ome to tanners, dyers, and widespread prostitution, earning it the Red-Light District nickname. Seeking to bring order and centralization to the city鈥檚 administration, Cosimo de鈥� Medici commissioned Giorgio Vasari in 1560 to design a new building that would house all major public offices near his residence at the Old Palace. Inspired by Venetian architecture, Vasari created a symmetrical row of buildings with graceful arches and columns, transforming the area into one of structured beauty and civic pride.
After Vasari鈥檚 death, construction continued, and by 1580, the Uffizi complex was connected to nearby buildings like the Mint and the Loggia dei Lanzi. The addition of the Vasari Corridor, an elevated walkway leading from the Uffizi to the Pitti Palace, allowed the Medici family to traverse the city in private. Today, the courtyard is a lively and symbolic space鈥攂ridging Florence鈥檚 gritty past with its Renaissance grandeur. It serves as both a cultural landmark and a busy walkway, often animated by artists, musicians, and the steady stream of visitors heading toward one of the world鈥檚 most important art museums.
Outside the Uffizi Gallery, twenty-eight marble statues of prominent Tuscans line the niches of the portico鈥檚 pillars, including four that overlook the Arno along Lungarno Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici; these sculptures, completed between 1842 and 1856 by some of the finest artists of the era, celebrate the region鈥檚 intellectual and artistic legacy. At the far end of the courtyard, just to the right of the archway leading to the Arno embankment, stands a full-length statue of Galileo Galilei, gazing thoughtfully skyward with a telescope in hand鈥攁 tribute sculpted by Aristodemus Costoli and gifted by Crown Prince Ferdinand, located on the square-facing side of the Verone Loggia.
After Vasari鈥檚 death, construction continued, and by 1580, the Uffizi complex was connected to nearby buildings like the Mint and the Loggia dei Lanzi. The addition of the Vasari Corridor, an elevated walkway leading from the Uffizi to the Pitti Palace, allowed the Medici family to traverse the city in private. Today, the courtyard is a lively and symbolic space鈥攂ridging Florence鈥檚 gritty past with its Renaissance grandeur. It serves as both a cultural landmark and a busy walkway, often animated by artists, musicians, and the steady stream of visitors heading toward one of the world鈥檚 most important art museums.
Outside the Uffizi Gallery, twenty-eight marble statues of prominent Tuscans line the niches of the portico鈥檚 pillars, including four that overlook the Arno along Lungarno Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici; these sculptures, completed between 1842 and 1856 by some of the finest artists of the era, celebrate the region鈥檚 intellectual and artistic legacy. At the far end of the courtyard, just to the right of the archway leading to the Arno embankment, stands a full-length statue of Galileo Galilei, gazing thoughtfully skyward with a telescope in hand鈥攁 tribute sculpted by Aristodemus Costoli and gifted by Crown Prince Ferdinand, located on the square-facing side of the Verone Loggia.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Florence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Piazzale degli Uffizi (Uffizi Courtyard) on Map
Sight Name: Piazzale degli Uffizi (Uffizi Courtyard)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Florence, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Florence
Creating your own self-guided walk in Florence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Duomo Souvenir Shopping
It would be a pity to leave Florence without having explored its specialty shops and bringing home something truly original. On this self-guided tour, we've compiled a list of shops and markets where you can find something unique to remember your Florentine visit.
Start at Central Market, which is not only a fun and colorful place to visit, but also the best place to stop for a meal.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Start at Central Market, which is not only a fun and colorful place to visit, but also the best place to stop for a meal.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Florence Food Tour
Food is one of the great Florentine passions, and the great thing about having a delicious authentic Tuscan meal, a snack, delicatessen, or a quality gelato here 鈥� besides the abundant variety 鈥� is not having to spend a lot of money for it.
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
In Galileo's Footsteps
Galileo Galilei鈥攂orn in Pisa in 1564鈥攕pent much of his life in and around Florence, where some of the most defining moments of his revolutionary career unfolded. A genius of many talents鈥攑hysicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor鈥攈e helped usher in the scientific revolution and reshape humanity鈥檚 understanding of the universe. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, became a... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Michelangelo's Masterpieces Walking Tour
Though born in the small Tuscan town of Caprese, Michelangelo spent over two decades of his life in Florence鈥攖he heart of the Renaissance. It was here that he grew up, was educated, and began shaping his artistic voice, eventually creating some of the most iconic masterpieces the city has ever known.
His larger-than-life work鈥斺�淒avid鈥濃�攄idn鈥檛 just reshape the image of biblical... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
His larger-than-life work鈥斺�淒avid鈥濃�攄idn鈥檛 just reshape the image of biblical... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Medici Landmarks Walking Tour
The Medici family helped to establish Florence as the single most important art capital of Renaissance Europe. In order to prove wealth and power, they built numerous palaces, libraries, churches, chapels and personal residences. The Medicis were big lovers of art and they acquired huge, expensive collections, as well as supporting many sculptors and painters of the time.
Designed by... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Designed by... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Arno South Bank Walking Tour
The area south of the Arno River鈥攌nown as Oltrarno, or 鈥淏eyond the Arno鈥濃�攐ffers a quieter, more intimate side of Florence, but one that鈥檚 no less captivating. It鈥檚 here that you鈥檒l find the grand Pitti Palace, home to a painting collection rivaled only by the Uffizi Gallery, and the expansive Boboli Gardens, once the private domain of the Medici and later, the royal family. As one of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
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