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As part of the years long process called the "Nuovi Uffizi" the Tribuna, the late 16th century octogonal parlor by Buontalenti built for Francesco I de' Medici as a gallery, has been completely restored and is now re-opened (the work was actually finished in 2012 and took over 3 years with funding coming from the non-profit group Friends of Florence).

Unfortunately this means that you can no longer walk through the room, but must just look in from three of the openings that are protected by a thick glass barrier that goes up to about chest high.

It isn't terrible, but being in the room was quite an experience. Everything in the room has been restored and cleaned, all the architecture, as well as all the sculptures and paintings. It is quite a slice of art history and looks fantastic and should for decades to come. Of course photos are not allowed inside of the Uffizi but someone managed to get this one to us:

This room was a highlight of the "Grand Tour", and the Medici Venus in the center was arguably the most famous (and one of the most copied) Venus sculpture known before eventually being eclipsed by the Venus de Milo.

This coming Sunday will mark the 20th anniversary of the Uffizi bombing. The city and the museum will commemorate this event and pay respect to the five people who died in the bomb with extended hours and free admission this Sunday.

The excellent SACI art blog has more details.

This was just announced by the Polo Museale Fiorentino (the Uffizi will be closed on New Year's day as usual).

Since Christmas Eve will be on Monday when the museums are usually closed the Uffizi and Accademia will be open from 8:15 AM to 6 PM. They will join the other museums, salons and villas normally open on the fourth Monday of each month: the Silver Museum and the Costume Gallery in the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens, the Medici Chapels, Palazzo Davanzati, Orsanmichele, Ghirlandaio's Last Supper and the Medici villas at Petraia, Castello, Poggio a Caiano and Cerreto Guidi.

On New Year's Eve, December 31, which also falls on a Monday this year, the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery will be open exceptionally from from 8:15 AM to 6 PM. To these are added the Bargello Museum, The museum of San Marco, Orsanmichele (which is only open on Mondays), the Convent of Santa Apollonia, and the Medici villas at Petraia, Castello, Poggio a Caiano and Cerreto Guidi.

The Vasari Corridor will be open this year - at least this winter and spring, as just announced on the official website of the Uffizi.

You can find more information, details, and options in English on Florence-On-Line (the Uffizi has yet to upload an English version and their page is "Under Construction as we write): Vasari Corridor Reservations and Tickets.

The Uffizi Touch® App (for iPhone and iPad) is available now on the iTunes App Store! This is an amazing app, and while there is still a little work to do around the edges (which will be coming in updates), you can't get anything similar or better - all of the works in the Uffizi, over 1,200 images, in super high resolution (when connected to WiFi). With no connection you still get all the works, plus the text to go with them, making this an indispensable app to have on your iPhone while visiting the gallery. This is an amazing application and we highly recommend it!

Currently the Uffizi is in the midst of a major transformation. The project is known as the "Nuovi Uffizi" and has been underway since 2006 (if my memory is correct). There are several more years of construction ahead and when complete most of the museum will have been restructured and/or restored.

There is a website dedicated to the project here. We'll also be bringing you news and updates here as things come more into focus.