CITY CENTRE EAST - Florence and Tuscany - page 59

The Bargello 6
Built in 1255 as the city's town hall, the Bargello is
the oldest seat of government surviving in Florence. In
the 16th century it was the residence of the chief of
police and a prison: executions took place here until
1786. After extensive renovation, it became one of
Italy's first national museums in 1865. The Bargello
houses a superb collection of Florentine Renaissance
sculpture, with rooms
dedicated to the work of
Michelangelo, Donatello,
Verrocchio, Giambologna
and Cellini, as well as a
collection of Mannerist
bronzes and examples
from the decorative arts.

Arms and
Armour
Collection

Mercury
Giambologna's famous 1564
bronze shows an
athletic youth
poised for flight.

Ivory
Collection

Magdalen
Chapel

GALLERY GUIDE
To the right of the entrance
hall, the Michelangelo Room is
presided over by his Bacchus
(1497). The courtyard stair-
case leads up to the Upper
Loggia, filled with statues of
birds by Giambologna. To the
right is the Donatello Room,
which contains the panels for
the Baptistry doors competition
of 1401. The Magdalen Chapel
and Islamic Collection are also
on the first floor. The Verrocchio
Room, the Andrea and Gio-
vanni della Robbia rooms, the
Arms and Armour Collection
and the Room of the Small
Bronzes are on the second floor.

Carrand
Collection

The courtyard
was once the
place of
execution.

. Bacchus
The Roman god
of wine with a
small satyr was
Michelangelo's first
major work (1497). The
modelling is Classical,
but the unsteady,
drunken posture mocks
the poise of ancient works.

KEY

Ground floor

Michelangelo
Room

First floor

The tower dates to
the 12th century.

Second floor

Temporary exhibitions

Non-exhibition space

Entrance