Palazzo del Bargello (Bargello National Museum), Florence (must see)
Florence is a haven for architecture enthusiasts and art lovers, and the Bargello Museum elevates this experience even further. Set within the walls of a medieval fortress, the museum houses some of Italy鈥檚 most prized sculptures and artworks.
Also known as the People鈥檚 Palace, the Bargello dates back to 1255, making it one of Florence鈥檚 oldest surviving structures. Over the centuries, it鈥檚 served many roles鈥攕tarting in the 16th century, when it housed Florence鈥檚 chief of police, also called the 鈥渂argello.鈥� Later, it functioned as a prison before finally being transformed into a museum in the mid-19th century. Since then, it鈥檚 become the ultimate destination for Gothic and Renaissance sculpture.
Inside, you鈥檒l encounter masterpieces by iconic artists like Michelangelo, Donatello, Verrocchio, and Brunelleschi, to name just a few. One of the museum鈥檚 most celebrated pieces is Donatello鈥檚 鈥淒avid鈥�, a landmark work that became the first male nude sculpture publicly displayed since ancient times鈥攎arking a turning point in European art. Michelangelo鈥檚 contributions include 鈥淏acchus鈥�, 鈥淧itti Tondo鈥� (also known as 鈥淢adonna and Child鈥�), 鈥淏rutus鈥�, and 鈥淒avid-Apollo鈥�. 鈥淏acchus鈥�, which Michelangelo carved at just 22 years old, is particularly striking. The figure鈥檚 rolling eyes and teetering posture give it an almost lifelike instability, reflecting a daringly androgynous quality that marked a bold step in the artist鈥檚 early career.
Beyond the Renaissance sculptures, the museum offers treasures from the Byzantine, Roman, and Medieval periods. You鈥檒l also find exquisite jewelry鈥攕ome pieces from the European Renaissance, others with Islamic origins. English descriptions accompany all exhibits, making the experience both accessible and informative.
Tip: Check the museum鈥檚 website ahead of time for opening hours. On certain days, the Bargello stays open late, giving visitors the chance to explore the medieval setting in a peaceful, near-empty atmosphere. It鈥檚 an unforgettable way to experience these works of art.
Also known as the People鈥檚 Palace, the Bargello dates back to 1255, making it one of Florence鈥檚 oldest surviving structures. Over the centuries, it鈥檚 served many roles鈥攕tarting in the 16th century, when it housed Florence鈥檚 chief of police, also called the 鈥渂argello.鈥� Later, it functioned as a prison before finally being transformed into a museum in the mid-19th century. Since then, it鈥檚 become the ultimate destination for Gothic and Renaissance sculpture.
Inside, you鈥檒l encounter masterpieces by iconic artists like Michelangelo, Donatello, Verrocchio, and Brunelleschi, to name just a few. One of the museum鈥檚 most celebrated pieces is Donatello鈥檚 鈥淒avid鈥�, a landmark work that became the first male nude sculpture publicly displayed since ancient times鈥攎arking a turning point in European art. Michelangelo鈥檚 contributions include 鈥淏acchus鈥�, 鈥淧itti Tondo鈥� (also known as 鈥淢adonna and Child鈥�), 鈥淏rutus鈥�, and 鈥淒avid-Apollo鈥�. 鈥淏acchus鈥�, which Michelangelo carved at just 22 years old, is particularly striking. The figure鈥檚 rolling eyes and teetering posture give it an almost lifelike instability, reflecting a daringly androgynous quality that marked a bold step in the artist鈥檚 early career.
Beyond the Renaissance sculptures, the museum offers treasures from the Byzantine, Roman, and Medieval periods. You鈥檒l also find exquisite jewelry鈥攕ome pieces from the European Renaissance, others with Islamic origins. English descriptions accompany all exhibits, making the experience both accessible and informative.
Tip: Check the museum鈥檚 website ahead of time for opening hours. On certain days, the Bargello stays open late, giving visitors the chance to explore the medieval setting in a peaceful, near-empty atmosphere. It鈥檚 an unforgettable way to experience these works of art.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Florence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Palazzo del Bargello (Bargello National Museum) on Map
Sight Name: Palazzo del Bargello (Bargello National Museum)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Florence, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Florence
Creating your own self-guided walk in Florence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Michelangelo's Masterpieces Walking Tour
Though born in the small Tuscan town of Caprese, Michelangelo spent over two decades of his life in Florence鈥攖he heart of the Renaissance. It was here that he grew up, was educated, and began shaping his artistic voice, eventually creating some of the most iconic masterpieces the city has ever known.
His larger-than-life work鈥斺�淒avid鈥濃�攄idn鈥檛 just reshape the image of biblical... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
His larger-than-life work鈥斺�淒avid鈥濃�攄idn鈥檛 just reshape the image of biblical... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Florence Food Tour
Food is one of the great Florentine passions, and the great thing about having a delicious authentic Tuscan meal, a snack, delicatessen, or a quality gelato here 鈥� besides the abundant variety 鈥� is not having to spend a lot of money for it.
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Florence's Hidden Art Treasures
The 鈥淐radle of the Renaissance,鈥� Florence is one of Europe鈥檚 most beautiful and busiest destinations, home to some of the world's greatest pieces of art and architecture. The iconic masters like Giotto, Botticelli, Raphael and Michelangelo, as well as their somewhat less-known but equally talented counterparts, such as Ghirlandaio, Sangallo and Castagno, have blessed this city with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Medici Landmarks Walking Tour
The Medici family helped to establish Florence as the single most important art capital of Renaissance Europe. In order to prove wealth and power, they built numerous palaces, libraries, churches, chapels and personal residences. The Medicis were big lovers of art and they acquired huge, expensive collections, as well as supporting many sculptors and painters of the time.
Designed by... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Designed by... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Dante's Florence Walking Tour
Dante Alighieri was arguably the greatest 鈥� albeit also most controversial 鈥� of Italy's poets. After having served as one of the six priors governing Florence, his political activities 鈥� including the banishing of several rivals 鈥� led to his own banishment, upon which he wrote his masterpiece, 鈥淭he Divine Comedy鈥�, as a wanderer, seeking protection for his family in one town after... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Arno South Bank Walking Tour
The area south of the Arno River鈥攌nown as Oltrarno, or 鈥淏eyond the Arno鈥濃�攐ffers a quieter, more intimate side of Florence, but one that鈥檚 no less captivating. It鈥檚 here that you鈥檒l find the grand Pitti Palace, home to a painting collection rivaled only by the Uffizi Gallery, and the expansive Boboli Gardens, once the private domain of the Medici and later, the royal family. As one of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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