Bargello Museum Florence: Famous Works and Private Tour

DONATELLO, MICHELANGELO AND THE BIRTH OF RENAISSANCE SCULPTURE

The Bargello National Museum in central Florence preserves masterpieces of Italian sculpture and an extraordinary civic history.

The visit combines what to see, famous works, the history of the palace and a three-dimensional art lesson with Giulia Bacci.

YOUR PRIVATE BARGELLO GUIDE

Visit the Bargello with Giulia Bacci

I am Giulia Bacci, a licensed tour guide and art historian. At the Bargello we move around the works, compare materials, techniques and viewpoints and learn how to read sculpture in space.

Giulia Bacci Tirinnanzi, art historian and licensed tour guide in Florence

Giulia Bacci · Art historian and licensed guide

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Or call me on 338 1705461

BARGELLO NATIONAL MUSEUM IN FLORENCE

What to see in the Bargello Museum

The route crosses the courtyard, loggia and rooms on several floors. These sections make the Bargello unique.

Donatello Hall

Bronze and marble Davids, Saint George, Marzocco, Amore-Attis and Verrocchio’s David.

Michelangelo Room

Bacchus, Brutus, David-Apollo, Pitti Tondo and works by Cellini, Ammannati and Giambologna.

Magdalene Chapel

Frescoes by Giotto and his workshop with the celebrated portrait of Dante in Paradise.

Della Robbia and decorative arts

Glazed terracotta, ivories, enamels, maiolica, textiles, arms and medals.

Carrand Collection

An exceptional group of medieval objects donated by French collector Louis Carrand.

Baroque sculpture

Bernini’s Costanza Bonarelli creates an immediate living presence.

MASTERPIECES NOT TO MISS

The most famous works in the Bargello

The page highlights the masterpieces that most often shape a visit and allow the clearest comparisons between artists.

Bronze David by Donatello in the Bargello Museum — Donatello’s bronze David, one of the most revolutionary works of the Renaissance.

Marble David by Donatello in the Bargello Museum — Donatello’s marble David, commissioned for Santa Maria del Fiore.

David by Andrea del Verrocchio in the Bargello Museum — Verrocchio’s David: a different interpretation of the young biblical hero.

Donatello, Verrocchio and the three Davids

Donatello’s bronze and marble Davids and Verrocchio’s David reveal the changing image of the biblical hero and the Renaissance body.

Bacchus by Michelangelo in the Bargello National Museum — Bacchus, carved by the young Michelangelo during his Roman period.

Michelangelo’s Bacchus

Carved by the young Michelangelo in Rome, it combines the study of antiquity, physical instability and extraordinary psychological presence.

The Sacrifice of Isaac by Filippo Brunelleschi in the Bargello — Brunelleschi’s panel for the 1401 competition for the Baptistery doors.

The Sacrifice of Isaac by Lorenzo Ghiberti in the Bargello — Ghiberti’s panel, winner of the 1401 competition.

Brunelleschi and Ghiberti: the 1401 competition

The two Sacrifice of Isaac panels show opposing ways of building narrative and working in bronze.

Madonna and Child by Luca della Robbia in the Bargello Museum — Luca della Robbia, glazed terracotta Madonna and Child.

Magdalene Chapel in the Bargello Museum — The Magdalene Chapel with frescoes by Giotto and his workshop.

Bust of Costanza Bonarelli by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the Bargello — Gian Lorenzo Bernini, portrait of Costanza Bonarelli.

Della Robbia, Dante and Bernini

Luca della Robbia’s glazed terracotta, the Magdalene Chapel and Costanza Bonarelli extend the route from the Middle Ages to the Baroque.

FROM THE PALAZZO DEL PODESTÀ TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM

The history of the Bargello Palace

Founded in 1255, the Palazzo del Podestà is Florence’s oldest public palace and predates Palazzo Vecchio.

From the sixteenth century it became the seat of the Bargello, head of the city police, and served as a prison and criminal court.

In 1865, while Florence was capital of Italy, it opened as the first National Museum of the Kingdom of Italy devoted to medieval and Renaissance art.

Exterior of the Bargello Palace seen from Piazza San Firenze — The Bargello Palace and its tower seen from Piazza San Firenze.

1255

Construction of the Palazzo del Podestà begins.

16th century

The palace becomes the seat of the Bargello and a prison.

1782

The instruments of torture are burned in the courtyard.

1865

The Bargello National Museum opens.

Courtyard of the Bargello Palace with its monumental staircase — The courtyard of the Palazzo del Podestà, architectural heart of the museum.

SCULPTURE IS SEEN BY MOVING

The Bargello as a three-dimensional art lesson

Sculpture has no single viewpoint. The tour begins with the visitor’s movement and connects body, material, light and space.

Walk around the work

Changing position reveals balance, twisting and the relationship with the surrounding space.

Compare materials

Marble, bronze and glazed terracotta require different techniques and artistic languages.

Read the surfaces

Tool marks, polishing, patina and light reveal the creative process.

Compare artists

The Davids by Donatello and Verrocchio and the panels by Brunelleschi and Ghiberti make opposing choices visible.

«The Bargello is the ideal place to understand that sculpture changes as we move.»

PLANNING YOUR VISIT

How long to spend and practical information

Allow around two hours for a complete visit. A route focused on Donatello and Michelangelo can be shorter.

Opening hours

Tuesday to Sunday, 8:15 am–6:50 pm. Closed Monday. Last admission 50 minutes before closing.

Admission

Full price €12, reduced €2 for EU citizens aged 18–25. Free under 18.

Combined tickets

Accademia + Bargello: €26, valid 48 hours. Museum group pass: €38, valid 72 hours.

Booking and groups

Individual booking is optional. Standard groups may include up to 20 visitors plus one accompanying person.

Accessibility: most rooms are reachable by ramps and lift; the Chapel, Sacristy and Bronzes Room have limitations.

Official Museum website

Official tickets

Bargello Museums

Authorised ticket shop

VIA DEL PROCONSOLO

Where the Bargello National Museum is located

The museum is at Via del Proconsolo 4, between the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Santa Croce.

It can be combined with Santa Croce, Orsanmichele, Palazzo Vecchio or a Donatello itinerary.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Bargello Museum

How long does a guided tour take?

A complete visit normally lasts around two hours. The route is adapted to interests and available time.

What are the most famous works?

Donatello’s bronze David, Michelangelo’s Bacchus, the Davids by Donatello and Verrocchio, the Brunelleschi and Ghiberti panels, Della Robbia works and Costanza Bonarelli.

Can the portrait of Dante be seen?

It is in the Magdalene Chapel, whose accessibility may be subject to limitations.

Is the Bargello suitable for children?

Yes. Davids, armour, animals, myths and different materials make an engaging route possible.

Is admission included in the guide service?

No. Admission and any reservation are separate from the guide’s fee.

Can it be combined with another site?

Yes. Natural combinations include Santa Croce, Orsanmichele, Palazzo Vecchio and a Donatello itinerary.

PRIVATE AND PERSONALISED TOUR

Discover the Bargello with Giulia

Send your preferred date, number of participants, ages of any children, language and time available. Giulia will create a route around the works that interest you most.

Contact me

Message me on WhatsApp

All guided tours

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