The Medici family ruled Florence from the Grand Palace – Palazzo Vecchio and their offices or ''ufizzi'' are immediately next doors. These offices and their Uffizi gallery hold the finest collection of Italian paintings anywhere. The gallery contains works by Michelangelo, da Vinci, Botticelli, Giotto, Simone Martini, Filippo Lippi, Raphael, pieces from the 12 th to the 17 th century and many tourists come to visit the masterpiece-packed Gallery. No doubt about it, the Gallery boasts the world's largest collection of Renaissance art.