Duration: 2:30 hour
On foot
Accessible to people with disabilities
tickets are extra, we will buy them and they are NO REFUNDABLE.
Private tour guide
Priority access to the museum
Headphones for parties of more than 6 people
Customized itinerary
Full assistance during the tour
Interactive experience
Hidden in the heart of Florence lies a true treasure: the Bargello Museum. Within the walls of this majestic medieval palace, you will witness the birth of modern sculpture, the moment when art changed forever. Accompanied by an expert guide, you will step into a world where artists dared to challenge tradition, shaping marble and bronze in ways never seen before.
The tour begins with the competition panels of 1401, the legendary challenge between Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi for the the North Door of the Baptistery. These panels mark the true beginning of the Renaissance, an absolute masterpiece that set a new artistic standard.
As we move forward, we will encounter the works of Donatello, Verrocchio, and Michelangelo, the masters who redefined sculpture.
You will admire Donatello’s magnificent St. George and his groundbreaking David, a sculpture revolutionary for its grace and delicacy. Next, Verrocchio’s David, a more dynamic and self- assured version, in which some believe they see a portrait of a young Leonardo da Vinci.
These masterpieces not only mark a fundamental moment in art history but also reflect a fascinating aspect of Renaissance culture: the exaltation of the beauty and sensuality of the male form, deeply tied to the intellectual climate of the time, which celebrated platonic love between men, a distinctive feature of Florence’s humanist circles.
As you explore the grand halls of the Bargello, you will marvel at Michelangelo’s Bacchus, an audacious sculpture depicting the god of wine in all his ecstatic vulnerability, and Benvenuto Cellini’s bronze statue of Cosimo I, a powerful symbol of ambition and authority. Alongside these masterpieces, the works of Giambologna and other great sculptors of the 16th century testify to the extraordinary evolution of Florentine sculpture.
We will conclude the tour in the enchanting medieval courtyard, a place steeped in history and beauty, perfect for taking a moment to soak in the unique atmosphere of this extraordinary museum.
An intense journey that will take you straight to the heart of Renaissance Florence, where art and history intertwine.
The Bargello Museum is one of Florence’s oldest and most fascinating sites. Built in 1255 as the Palazzo del Podestà, it became a symbol of civic power. Later, it was transformed into a prison and the seat of the feared Captain of Justice, known as the “Bargello,” from whom the museum takes its name.
With Italy’s unification in 1865, this imposing palace was converted into the first national museum dedicated to sculpture and decorative arts, housing a one-of-a-kind collection. In addition to its great Renaissance masterpieces, the museum also preserves ivories, weapons, ceramics, and jewelry, telling the story of Florence’s past elegance and grandeur.
Visiting the Bargello means immersing yourself in the boldness and brilliance of the Renaissance, discovering the magic of Florentine sculpture, and being captivated by a palace that has witnessed eight centuries of history.
Join us on this journey into the soul of Florence, where every sculpture tells a story of power, beauty, and transformation.
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