Bargello Museum in Florence

The Bargello Museum in Florence is a treasure trove of Renaissance sculpture, housed in one of the city’s oldest civic palaces. The building, with its medieval origins, once served as the headquarters of the Captain of the People and later the Podestà, before becoming the residence of the Bargello (the head of police) and a prison.

During the 19th century, the palace underwent a transformation and became a prominent museum of Renaissance sculpture, boasting one of the world’s most important collections. The ground floor features the Hall of the 15th-century, showcasing four statues by Michelangelo – Bacchus, a relief with the Madonna and Child, Brutus, and David-Apollo. Works by other renowned artists like Sansovino, Benvenuto Cellini, Ammannati, and Giambologna are also displayed. Giambologna’s Mercury and bronze animals created for the Medici Villa di Castello’s grotto are among the notable pieces.

On the first floor, the large Hall of the 13th-Century houses works by Donatello, including the famous bronze statue of David from 1440, considered a masterpiece of Renaissance art. Other works by Donatello, such as Saint George, Atys, and Marzocco, are also exhibited here, along with sculptures by Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, and Luca della Robbia.

The second floor of the museum features sculptures from the late 1400s by renowned Florentine artists like Verrocchio, Rossellino, and Pollaiolo.

The museum’s collections extend beyond sculptures and encompass other valuable artefacts, such as splendid ivories from the Roman and Byzantine eras, Renaissance jewellery, medieval enamels, and Venetian glass. The section dedicated to the glazed terracottas by Andrea and Giovanni Della Robbia is also worth exploring. Visitors can admire the bronze David and Lady with Primroses by Verrocchio and the bust of Costanza Buonarelli by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, showcasing the richness and diversity of art in this renowned museum.

The Bargello Museum in Florence appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Florence!

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