The world's pre-eminent showcase of Renaissance painting, housed in a U-shaped palace along the Arno built by Vasari for the Medici in the 1560s. The collection covers Giotto through Caravaggio, with the highlights concentrated on the second floor: Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo's Annunciation, Michelangelo's Holy Family, Raphael, and Titian. Allow at least 2–3 hours; the museum is large and can be overwhelming.
Book online weeks ahead in high season — walk-in queues can be hours long. The first floor (Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Goya) is often missed by visitors running out of time.