My top three, must-see museums in Florence are:

1) Palazzo Pitti: My absolute favorite. This old Medici palace has room upon room of gorgeous art, both on the walls and on the ceiling, and the rooms that they have left furnished sizzle with the energy of the past, when the Medicis ruled the city. There's also a beautiful hidden grotto in the courtyard with statues of Moses. And, of course, the Bobboli Gardens are attached to the palace, so once you've immersed yourself in Renaissance painting, go and bask in the greenery and statues of Pegasus and Honor, among others.

2) Il Bargello: A former jail that is now the home of sculptures by such luminaries as Raphael (both of his Davids are here), Cellini, and Michelangelo. There's also a fully restored chapel, an armory, and Medici banners and coats of arms everywhere. Double check your guide book for hours of operation, as they're not as frequent as some of the bigger museums.

3) Galleria degi Uffizi: Yes, it's tourist haven, and yes, the wait to get in is absolutely insane. But there's a reason why the Uffizi has the reputation that it has, and the wait is more than worth it. Make sure you have sufficient time and mental preparation to devote to the amount of incredible, famous, and historic art you are going to see. I went through by myself and took my time in each room, but audio guides are available to take you through the exhibits.

I have visited the Uffizi musuem many times. On my last visit I decided to hire a personal tour guide to show us around. He got us into the musuem ahead of the huge line and he was very informative. It was a great investment.

I have been visited to Palazzo Pitti.

The Palazzo Pitti is characterized by a severe and simple architecture. One continual architectural theme used throughout four centuries has produced massive but impressive elevations and façades which belie the long evolution and history of the structure.

Florence receives more than five million visitors each year, and for many of them the Palazzo Pitti is an essential stop. Thus the palazzo still impresses visitors with the splendours of Florence, the purpose for which it was originally built.