Bargello Palace

The Bargello is a three-story stone building with crenellated walls, a central courtyard, and an external staircase that characterize its medieval design. Inside, collections of Renaissance sculptures, earthenware, Murano glass, and Islamic artifacts fill multiple floors connected by narrow medieval staircases.

Construction began in 1255 under architect Lapo Tedesco when it served as the seat of Florence's chief magistrate and government officials. Over centuries it shifted functions, becoming a police station and prison before being repurposed as Italy's first national museum in 1865.

The rooms hold sculptures by Donatello and Michelangelo that reveal how artists experimented with new forms and techniques during the Renaissance. Walking through the galleries, you sense the moment when Florence became a center where artistic innovation transformed the way people saw human figures.

The main entrance leads you through the ground floor, and floors are connected by narrow medieval staircases that require careful navigation. Allow plenty of time to move slowly through the collections and examine the works in detail on each level without feeling rushed.

The courtyard loggia displays bronze sculptures that reveal hidden details upon closer inspection, showing how artists intentionally designed works with surprises built in. These pieces demonstrate that even masterworks required experimentation and occasional missteps as part of the creative journey.