Bargello Museum. A fortress in downtown Florence, this building was started in 1255 to be the headquarter of the Capitano del Popolo and later, of the Podestà. A prison since 16th century, it owes his name to the police chief position of that time. It houses one of the early sculptures by Michelangelo, “Bacchus”, (1496), deliberately created to look very ancient,the “Pitti Tondo” (1504), “Brutus”, “David-Apollo”, in addition to works by Donatello, Ghiberti, Verrocchio, Giambologna. Last but not least, the Carrand collection, made of very precious Roman, Bizantine, Medieval ivory pieces, not to mention the Longobard and baroque jewels, or the enamelled tiles produced in France and the scientific instruments. Eye-catching are also the very rich ceramics’ room and the weapons’ collection located on the 2nd floor. |
