The Uffizi Gallery received something of a makeover for 2012. A new wing of the gallery spent a number of years in renovation, and as of December, it was finally opened to the public. The works of art housed in these new, exceedingly modern rooms range from the 1500's to the 18th century. French, Dutch, Spanish, and Flemish artists are all represented among the 10 new rooms and 2500+ works on display. Perhaps most notable are the ultramarine blue walls that have been chosen to contrast the traditional terracotta floors.

Blue walls and complimenting terracotta — Photo courtesy of Florence Daily News

The Uffizi Gallery, as most well know, boasts some of the most extensive, historic, and vibrant displays of paintings and sculptures from around the world. Collections from iconic figures such as Giotto, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio are among the most noteworthy. There are also well-known German, Dutch and Flemish masters of the arts such as Dürer ,Rembrandt and Rubens. The Uffizi, which was once the administrative offices of the Tuscan State, was deisgned by Giorgio Vasari between 1560 and 1580 . The Gallery was commissioned by the Grand Duke Francesco I, and was originally intended to house the great collections of the Medici family.

New Uffizi Wing — Photo courtesy of Florence Daily News

The Vasari Corridor starts off the Uffizi Gallery with its raised passageway that connects the Uffizi with the Pitti Palace. The corridor is lined with an important collection of 17th-century paintings and the famous collection of artists’ self-portraits. You must book ahead of time for the Uffizi because the lines (especially during the summer) can be very long. You can book your tickets here: Polo Museale Fiorentino

Vasari Corridor — Photo courtesy of Old Broad Abroad blog