Museo delle Porcellane, Porcelain museum in Boboli Gardens, Florence, Italy
The museum is housed in a small building at the top of Boboli Gardens and displays a collection of decorative porcelain pieces from Europe's finest 18th and 19th century manufacturers. The rooms show serving dishes, teapots, figurines, and tableware arranged to reflect how they were used in formal dining settings.
The collection grew from the Medici family's interest in art during the Renaissance and was expanded over centuries through acquisitions and royal gifts from European dynasties. The building itself dates to the 1600s and was originally designed as an elegant residence before becoming a dedicated gallery for these treasured pieces.
The collection reflects how European courts competed to display wealth and power through decorative tableware and exotic serving pieces. Walking through the rooms, you notice how these items were meant to impress guests and demonstrate a family's refined taste and connections.
To reach the museum, visitors must walk through Boboli Gardens since the building sits high within the grounds and is accessible only on foot. The rooms are small and can feel crowded during peak times, so visiting during quieter periods gives you more space to observe each piece.
Among the collection are whimsical animal-shaped serving dishes and figurines from the Meissen factory that appear almost like sculptures crafted for the table. These playful pieces reveal how 18th century artisans enjoyed injecting humor and creativity into formal dining ware.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.