The Uffizi Gallery - Florence

The Uffizi Gallery, built in 1581, is the main art museum in Florence. The museum was originally intended to be an office building to hold government meetings—hence the name “Uffizi,” meaning offices. The building runs perpendicular to the Arno River, and ends right at the location of the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. A narrow courtyard runs down the middle of the building that opens up to a view of the river; it is considered by architects to be the first regularized “street view” of Europe.

The Uffizi is most famous for its octagonal room, “Tribuna Ottagonale,” designed by Bernardo Buontalenti, who was also one of the original architects. Features in the room contribute to the elements of air, fire, and water. In the middle of the room sits an octagon-shaped table that has been preserved since the 16th century. On the other side of the building, there is a group of rooms that were once used as laboratories for the Foundry, or pharmacy. These rooms were used to make medicines, perfumes, and even poisons. Today, of course, these rooms are filled with countless works of art and are open for the public to enjoy.
Some of the most famous works of art in the museum include Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus (above) and Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation (below).

The official website for the Uffizi Gallery:

http://www.uffizi.com/