Tag: museums

Pre-departure: Museum Tips

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By Emily Robinson

Free Museum Days: 5 tips to make the most out of free entry.

On the first Sunday of every month, as well as other special days throughout the year, Florence’s civic museums allow guests to visit for free! Here are some tips to get the most out of your visit and appreciate the Medici art.

1.  Check hours and restrictions
Some museums and churches open earlier than others, while other facilities (such as Museo del Bigallo) may only allow visitors upon reservation. Did you know that the Palazzo Vecchio museum is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. but the museum’s tower is only open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.? Do your research ahead of time to avoid frustration later.

2.  Map out your day
If you are aimlessly walking around the city from one museum to another, you will tire out before even getting to your destination. After picking the places you want to visit and checking their hours, map the museums out and see what route makes the most sense. Your friends (and feet) will thank you later!

3.  Dress for success
Check the weather and dress accordingly. If you plan on walking a lot, make sure to wear comfortable shoes. If you plan on visiting a church, make sure your outfit adheres to their dress code (some require shoulders and knees to be covered.)

4.  Pack Light
Make sure you are prepared for a long day of adventures. If you are planning on using your phone a lot, bring a portable phone charger or wall unit and adapter. Throw a water bottle into your bag since beverages at a restaurant or café can be pricey. When it comes to traveling, less is more. Keep in mind that anything you pack you will have to carry on your back all day and that can start to weigh on you.

5.  Expect crowds
You are not the only person who decided to save a few euros and visit museums on a free entrance day! Anticipate long lines and crowded exhibits and remember that you are not the only person who has been walking from one museum to another. Be patient, kind and – most importantly – flexible when things do not go as planned.

With these tips in mind, my friends and I were able to visit Palazzo Vecchio, Museo Novecento, Santa Maria Novella and Cappella Brancacci all in one afternoon. Even with a student discount, we saved over 100 euros between the five of us on one free museum day. Hopefully these tips can help you get the most out of free museum days in Italy, too!

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Surviving the Cold: Florence’s Indoor Activities

Photo by the author
Photo by the author

By Jess Pitocco

Since January is the coldest month of the year in Florence, it may seem difficult at first to find indoor things to do that don’t include the Uffizi Museum. The city however is full of great indoor activities, here are some ideas of things to do to stay out of the frosty weather.

  1. Palazzo Strozzi is a great place to spend a day indoors without getting bored! Currently, the Ai Weiwei exhibit is being shown until January 22th, 2016 and is a great way to look at some modern art (instead of the Renaissance art you are used to seeing.) The Strozzi Café is open Tuesday throughSunday from 8:00 AM to 00:30AM (Monday until 8:00 PM) and serves breakfast, lunch, cocktails and dinner. It’s a great place not only to bang out a homework assignment or study for finals but also to experience some wine tasting and classic Italian cuisine. There are even a bookshop and a contemporary space to hang out on the bottom floor. Palazzo Strozzi is truly a great place to spend an afternoon sight-seeing, eating and studying.
  2. If you haven’t visited the Gucci Museum yet in one of your fashion classes, it is a great place to learn more not only about fashion but also about Hollywood. The museum has everything from a history of bags, their double G logo, and even dresses for the stars. The Gucci Museum also includes a great café and bookshop to hang out in. In the same Piazza della Signora, the Palazzo Vecchio stands tall. I know that even though I’ve lived here for months I still haven’t had time to see some of Florence’s most beautiful monuments. If you haven’t seen Palazzo Vecchio, it is worth the look. You can see it’s glorious rooms, gold-plated ceilings, and even climb the tower to see a beautiful view of the city. Afterwards, you can dine at the restaurant/café on the top level overlooking the piazza and its many statues below. Definitely take the time to explore this Piazza della Signora because it’s wonders and museums are unique and grand.
  3. Palazzo Pitti is known for the sprawling Boboli Gardens, however, these gardens are not the most enticing in the cold. What you may not know is that the Pitti Palace is a series of 6 museums and gardens, not just the Boboli Gardens. Take an afternoon to explore these museums: The Palatine Museum, The Gallery of Modern Art, The Costume Gallery, The Medici Treasury, and the Porcelain Museum. Among the galleries and museums that range from jewels to plates, there is a wonderful little restaurant and café on the entrance floor to relax, do homework, or write in your journal. To explore Pitti Palace is to absorb all facets of Florentine culture from art to history.
  4. The new Museo degli Innocenti is something interesting and unusual to check out. The former abandoned children’s hospital established in the Renaissance still continues to help Florentine families today through social services and educational programs. The new museum in Piazza Santissima Annunziata will highlight the building’s works, architecture and documentary records which make the Institute’s heritage so unique. The institution’s history and many original paintings tell of the people who lived in the Hospital, so this is a great, unique spot to visit in order to discover a different perspective of Florence.
  5. The Salvatore Ferragamo Museum is another great spot to explore art and fashion, with multiple exhibits that not only focus on the shoes of the stars but also experimental and international fashion and art. Along Via de’ Tornabuoni there are endless shopping opportunities to stop in on your way back from the museum. The list includes Valentino, Burberry, Tiffany, Co., Fendi, Montblanc, Giorgio Armani, Prada and even Gucci again. Not only do these high-end shops stretch seemingly a mile long starting at the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum, but there are also more manageable spots to shop Tod’s, Olfattorio, and more. Take an afternoon or evening to window shop and explore one of the coolest and most progressive museums I’ve ever seen.
  6. La Specola, the Museum of Natural History in Florence, is another great spot for a day indoors. This museum features Medici collections of fossils, treasures, animals, minerals, exotic plants; there are 24 rooms of zoology and 10 of wax modelling. There is also the Hall of Skeletons featuring over 3,000 archaeological finds! Open year-round and on Via Romana near the Pitti Palace, this museum is definitely worth a look inside for a totally different view of Florence’s scientific findings and discoveries.

Obviously, these are not the only indoor activities to do in Florence: you can see a movie at the Odeon Theater or even take a single cooking class at FUA’s culinary department facilities. However, these piazzas, streets and museums offer a range of possibilities for a lazy afternoon on a cold day in Florence. Take the time to explore new museums and places, and don’t forget to bring a hat and scarf!

See more of Florence at FUA’s FB, Instagram, and Twitter.