Some rules for visitors

Planning your visit

Prior to your visit, particularly during extremely busy times and in the case of single visitors, we suggest booking your ticket here, in order to avoid lengthy queues on admission. Booking is optional and charged, but enables reducing waiting times. The ticket allows a single entry and cannot be reused. The museum staff may ask you to show your ticket at any point during the visit, and it must therefore be kept carefully for the entire length of the visit. 

The organization and opening times and of the Uffizi Galleries may be viewed in each museum site section or here (Uffizi - Pitti Palace - Boboli Gardens).

Works which are on temporary loan to other institution for exhibitions, temporarily absent due to maintenance or restoration interventions, or for other reasons, may be consulted here.

Backpacks, bags, umbrellas and other large objects must be stored in the cloakroom prior to entry. Storage is free. Visitors are subject to metal detector inspection in some museums.

FOR ALL VISITORS

Groups cannot exceed 16 people; tour guides or any accompanying person giving information during the visits must always use the whisper system (microphone and earphones), if the members of the group are more than 6 (guide or accompanying person included). In any case,groups cannot exceed 16 people (28 in the Boboli Gardens). The whisper system is not compulsory for the visitors of the Boboli Gardens.

It is also forbidden to:

• stand and sit on the access and escape routes and on any other passage intended for an emergency exit;

• cross the distance barriers between the walkways for the visitors;

• touch the works;

• damage or tamper with structures, infrastructures and services in any way;

• engage in behaviour capable of creating dangerous situations, endangering the safety of any person or contrary to public order, which can in any way disturb the regular course of an event or prevent its peaceful enjoyment;

• enter and stay under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

• use material that obstacles visibility to other visitors or that interferes with the emergency signs or that, in any case, is an obstacle to the escape routes towards the exit;

• show aggressive behaviour towards the personnel in charge of the control.

All visitors must comply with the common rules of good manners. In general, no behaviour which may compromise the safety of the works or of other visitors is allowed. The general indications given in the museum signs and indicated by the museum staff must be observed. Voices should be kept moderate. Clothing which is appropriate to the formal setting of the museum is required (for example, visiting the museum in a bathing costume or skimpy clothing as well as wearing wedding dresses, period costumes or any other fancy dress undignified for such places is considered inappropriate).

Visitors under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Mobile phones must be turned off or at least placed in silent mode.

It is absolutely forbidden to:

• touch the works of art or to place objects close to them which may cause damage (with the single exception of the visually impaired or the blind, in relation to the works included in the dedicated itineraries)

• lean on the base of sculptures or against walls

• run in the museum premises

• use hiking sticks

• walk barefoot (while it is allowed with socks or stockings on) or bare-chested in the museums' premises

• eat or drink in the exhibition areas

• take any drink or liquid except for 1/2 litre bottle of water and LAGs (liquids, aerosols, gels) for medical use or special dietary requirements, including baby food, baby bottles, powdered milk, and fruit juices in cardboard boxes of less than 250 ml for children only

• introduce alcoholic drinks or corrosive drinks (e.g. Coke)

• smoke (the prohibition also includes esmoking)

• talk on the phone

• use flash photography; to take photographs or videos using selfie sticks, lightstands, tripods or any kind of professional equipment

• write on walls

• leave paper, bottles, chewing gum or other waste: please, use the appropriate bins

• bring knives and/or other metal objects into the museums; take any kind of firearm and/or dangerous material. Armed visitors (including those with a regular licence) are not allowed to enter the museums; any special conditions must be notified and may possibly be agreed beforehand with the Institute Director.

• take animals, with the exception of guide dogs for the blind, servicedogs assisting the disabled and pets for medical/therapeutic reasons (pet therapy) - which must all be kept on a leash - with a certificate issued by doctors belonging to public health services.We kindly ask for advance notice of the presence of servicedogs and pet therapy animals by sending an e-mail to uffiziaccessibili@cultura.gov.it and attaching the relevant certification.

• introduce drones and similar devices 

• For security reasons, it is compulsory to submit the staff all LAG products and overcoats in order to facilitate inspection operations (info).

Security personnel, identified by a badge and in uniform, are available to provide information concerning the museums' collections and services to visitors. Staff is responsible for the security of the works on display and that these rules are followed. Visitors must therefore comply with indications given by security personnel, which are authorised to intervene if necessary and even to remove anyone whose behaviour may jeopardise the safety of the works of art or who may disturb other visitors.

As to photographs, according to the Legislative Decree 83/2014 (article 12 subparagraph 3), it is possible to take photographs (except for works on loan for temporary exhibitions) for personal aims or study purposes, provided that there is no use of flash, stands or tripods (more)

For other purposes (publications or other uses for commercial purposes), a specific authorization is required, as well as the payment of a fee as applicable.  

Only the use of pencils and digital devices is allowed, while colours, tripods, stands and any kind of cumbersome equipment are forbidden inside the museums.

The Uffizi Galleries can welcome visitors who wish to make marriage proposals within the museum premises (including the cafeteria). This opportunity must not disturb other visitors, nor involve the presence of professional photographers or otherwise persons with professional photographic and video shooting equipment, in compliance with all regulations already in force. We would also like to remind you that entrance with ceremonial clothes or accessories is not allowed. More on Request to film or photograph and Temporary use of museums spaces.

GROUPS

• Groups must not exceed 16 persons for the Uffizi and Palazzo Pitti museums; the maximum number, however, is 28 people for the Boboli Gardens. These limits include accompanying persons, guides and teachers.

• Visitors accompanied by guides must remain in a group, follow the guide or teacher/accompanying person and keep an appropriate and respectful behaviour, as given in the above indications.

• To enter the Uffizi, groups of 11 persons or more must pay an “Extra fee for large groups”, in addition to the regular admission ticket, except as thereby given.

• No type of voice amplifier is allowed.

• During guided tours, the tone of voice must not disturb other visitors.

• Groups over six people, guides included, must use headphones (whisper) - except for the Boboli Gardens - in order to keep the voice down, as per the Regulation and taking into account the exceptions already foreseen (Mandatory use of earphones). A rental service of headphones is available inside museums at the cost of 1.50 EUR per person.

• No laser pointers can be used to indicate the works of art.

School groups

Teachers may find information concerning the educational offer and materials here. School groups must consist of 16 students maximum, included accompanying persons to visit the museums of Uffizi and Pitti Palace, or 28 to visit the Boboli Gardens.

Teachers are responsible for their classes; they must keep pupils together and disciplined and supervise that their behaviour should respect the place, other visitors and in general comply with the above given regulations.

School groups, both those included in the daily maximum number of groups allowed and those entering as individuals, are also obliged to use earphones, as per the Regulation and taking into account the exceptions already foreseen (Mandatory use of earphones). Accompanying teachers are, in this case, considered tourist guides and, therefore, shall comply with the same rules. Should they not be interested in giving explanations and using headphones, they have to fill in the specific renunciation form available at the ticket office and attached here, to be kept for the duration of the whole visit. Explanations without the use of headphones are forbidden.

Teahcers may find information about educational activities and the relevant material here.

Tour guides

Exercising the profession of tour guide inside the Uffizi Galleries is exclusively allowed to professional guides, pursuant to current legislation. For information concerning any reduced rates for tourist guides, please click here.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

In cases of high attendance, staff may temporarily close some rooms or itineraries in order to safeguard both the works on display and visitors.

In cases of alarm and/or emergency, visitors must follow the appropriate signs and the indications given by the security personnel. In case of evacuation, all visitors must proceed in an orderly manner, following the directives given by the staff in charge.