June 14, 2011 — Tuscan Traveler has compared the two museum passes available in Florence.
The new mayor announced last year a “big deal” he had hammered out with Rome’s state museum authority – Florence, like every other major city in the world, was going to offer a museum pass. After the big press conference, nothing happened. Then, in the middle of January, Mayor Renzi said, “It’s on its way.” Nothing happened.
Yesterday, March 25, the 72 hour Firenze Card arrived at selected points (mostly museum ticket offices and official Tourist Information offices) and you, too, can benefit – mostly by skipping the queue/line – for the hefty price of 50 euro. Now will begin the debate over which is the best museum card in Florence – the Amici degli Uffizi Card or the Firenze Card. (Watch Tuscan Traveler for Museum Passes in Florence: Part Three – What’s the Best Deal?)
The following comes directly off the very fine web site developed to support the card where you can also buy the Firenze Card online (the emphasis is mine):
Firenze Card grants access to the major museums, villas and historical gardens in Florence.
Firenze Card is a 72 hours (sic) card that gives you admission to 33 of the most important museums in Florence. You will have access not only to permanent collections, but also to exhibitions and all other activities held in that museum without further costs. You have just to show your card at the entrance to the museum’s personnel, who will record your entry and let you in. The card can be used just once in each museum, and it will provide free access also to a EU citizen under-eighteens (sic) accompanying you To use your card for public transport, just swipe it against the validation machines located on every bus or tram.
Firenze Card is activated on the first visit to a museum or first use of public transport. Since then you have 72 hours to visit the city and its historical and artistic heritage. The card’s validity is therefore independent from the purchasing time. Remember to write your name and surname on the back of your card before using it. Some museums can offer free access on special occasions. Please, consult the “News” page (online) to check updated timetables and find out access benefits and all the other information about museums.
Firenze Card is valid for 3 consecutive days from its first use. The card will expire at the end of the validity period and also your free access to museums and public transport with it. The card is strictly personal and not transferable, and it has to be showed with a proof of identity on request by the museum’s personnel.
In addition to free admission, Firenze Card allows you to avoid long queues at the ticket offices of main museums. Just look for the signs “Firenze Card” in your chosen museums and show your card to the personnel, who will record your entry and let you in.
It is promoted by the Municipality of Florence, the Ministry for the Arts and Cultural Activities, the Regional Direction of Cultural Heritage, the Special Superintendence for Historical, Artistic and Ethnic-anthropological Heritage and for the Museum Circuit of the city of Florence, the Province of Florence and the Chamber of Commerce of Florence, in collaboration with ATAF.
With the Firenze Card you get a lanyard with a handy pocket for the card and the accompanying booklet that describes all of the museums that qualify for “free” entry.
The following are the museums, gardens, villas and churches included in the Firenze Card Program:
Museo di Palazzo Vecchio – piazza della Signoria Firenze
Museo Stefano Bardini – via dei Renai 37 Firenze
Palazzo Medici Riccardi – via Cavour 3 Firenze
Museo di Santa Maria Novella – piazza Santa Maria Novella Firenze
Cappella Brancacci – piazza del Carmine 14 Firenze
Fondazione Salvatore Romano – piazza Santo Spirito 29 Firenze
Cappelle Medicee – piazza Madonna degli Aldobrandini 6 Firenze
Galleria degli Uffizi – Piazzale degli Uffizi 6 Firenze
Galleria dell’Accademia – Via Ricasoli 58/60 Firenze
Galleria Palatina e Appartamenti Monumentali – Piazza Pitti 1 Firenze
Galleria d’arte moderna – Piazza Pitti 1 Firenze
Museo Giardino di Boboli – Piazza Pitti 1 Firenze
Museo degli Argenti – Piazza Pitti 1 Firenze
Museo delle Porcellane – Piazza Pitti 1 Firenze
Galleria del Costume – Piazza Pitti 1 Firenze
Museo Archeologico Nazionale – Piazza Santissima Annunziata 9b Firenze
Museo dell’Opificio delle Pietre Dure – Via degli Alfani 78 Firenze
Museo di Palazzo Davanzati – Via Porta Rossa 13 Firenze
Museo di San Marco – Piazza San Marco 3 Firenze
Museo Nazionale del Bargello – Via del Proconsolo 4 Firenze
Cenacolo Andrea del Sarto – Via di San Salvi 16 Firenze
Cenacolo del Ghirlandaio – Borgo Ognissanti 42 Firenze
Cenacolo del Fuligno – via Faenza 42 Firenze
Cenacolo di Sant’Apollonia – Via XXVII Aprile 1 Firenze
Chiostro dello Scalzo – Via Cavour 69 Firenze
Complesso Monumentale Orsanmichele – via Arte della Lana 1 Firenze
Villa Medicea di Cerreto Guidi e Museo storico della caccia e del territorio – Via dei Ponti Medicei 7 Cerreto Guidi
Villa Medicea della Petraia – Via della Petraia 40 Firenze
Giardino della Villa Medicea di Castello – Via di Castello 47 Firenze
Museo di Casa Martelli – Via Zannetti 8 Firenze
Collezione Contini Bonacossi – Via Lambertesca 6 Firenze
Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano – Piazza de Medici 14 Poggio a Caiano
Villa Corsini a Castello – Via della Petraia 38 Firenze