Several of Italy’s greatest art museums require you to book a reservation to enter. A year ago, you could reserve your spot a day ahead, but to see the Uffizi in Florence or Leonardo’s Last Supper in Milan this summer, you need to book at least a month in advance. If you’re heading to one of those cities, the best strategy is to get reservations as soon as you know when you’ll be in town, even if you’re calling Italy from home.
Florence has a reservation system for its top five sights – the Uffizi (with Renaissance masterpieces, including Botticelli’s Birth of Venus), the Accademia (Michelangelo’s David), the Bargello (best statues), the Medici Chapels (tombs by Michelangelo), and the Pitti Palace (Raphael’s art in a lavish setting). Reserve only the first two; there’s no need to book the rest.
Hotels are accustomed to booking Uffizi (oo-FEET-zee) and Accademia reservations for tourists, as long as you request this free service when you reserve your hotel room. After learning how easy this is and seeing hundreds of bored, sweaty tourists waiting in lines without the reservation, you’ll be glad you did.
If you want to make the booking directly, dial 055-294-883 from Italy or 011-39-055-294-883 from the U.S. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Because they’re operating on European time, it’s a good idea to get up early in the morning or stay up late to call. (Italy is 9 hours ahead of the West, and 6 hours ahead of the East Coast.) The number is often busy; be persistent.
An English-speaking operator walks you through the process, and two minutes later you say “grazie” with appointments for a 15-minute entry window and six-digit confirmation numbers. Some online booking agencies also offer reservations (for a fee), such as www.weekendafirenze.it.
Besides these main attractions, the only other places in Florence you should book in advance are the Brancacci Chapel, home of Masaccio’s Renaissance frescoes (call 055-276-8224 for reservations) and the Medici-Riccardi Palace (to see its sumptuous Chapel of the Magi, call 055-276-0340). Spots are generally available a day in advance, or even, if you’re lucky, the same day.
In Milan, Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper has entry times booked more than a month in advance, because of the huge popularity of Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code.” Reservations are mandatory. To minimize the humidity problem, 25 tourists are allowed in every 15 minutes for exactly 15 minutes. For a reservation, call 02-8942-1146 in Italy, or 011-39-02-8942-1146 from the U.S. The number is often busy. Keep trying. The booking office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Getting the reservation to see The Last Supper is a two-minute process, and you’ll hang up with an appointed entry time and a number, just as with the Uffizi. If you’re booking more than two tickets, you’ll need to pay in advance with a credit card. Otherwise, they only take cash upon arrival. Tickets are 8 euros ($9.75 U.S.), and visits scheduled at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. cost 3.25 euros extra ($13.70 total), but come with a guided English tour.
While “reservations are required,” you can book one at the desk if spots are available (more likely on weekdays and late), even if the “Sold Out” sign is posted. If fewer than 25 people show up for a particular time slot, you can get lucky. But those who come without a reservation generally kill lots of time waiting around.
With a little planning ahead, you’ll breeze in and out of the Uffizi, make friends with David, and say “ciao” to Leonardo’s Last Supper without even breaking a sweat.
Rick Steves of Edmonds (425-771-8303, www.ricksteves.com) is the author of 30 European travel guidebooks including “Europe Through the Back Door” (published by Avalon), and is the host of the public television series “Rick Steves’ Europe,” airing the following nights at 7 p.m. on KCTS. This week’s schedule:
Monday: England and South Wales
Tuesday: Caesar’s Rome
Wednesday: Germany’s Black Forest and Cologne
Friday: Florence
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