Museum of Musical Instruments, Musical instruments museum at Accademia Gallery, Florence, Italy
The Museum of Musical Instruments at the Accademia Gallery displays around fifty historical instruments, including strings, harpsichords, and wind instruments from the 17th to 19th centuries. The collection features works by renowned craftsmen such as Stradivari and is presented in modern gallery spaces.
The instruments originally belonged to the Medici and Lorraine families before entering the gallery. They document Florence's long connection to musical culture from the early modern period through the 19th century.
The collection reflects the musical tastes of Florence's ruling courts, where instruments served as symbols of power and refinement. Visitors can observe how these precious objects displayed their owners' status and shaped the artistic life of the city.
The museum features interactive stations where visitors can listen to recordings of the instruments, making it easy to learn about their sounds. It is most convenient to combine a visit here with the main museum, as it is located in the same gallery.
The museum holds two instruments by Bartolomeo Cristofori, including the world's first vertical piano, which marked the beginning of modern piano development. This invention revolutionized keyboard instrument construction and makes this collection particularly significant for music historians.
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