Why go
Go here if sculpture is a priority and you want its political setting as well as its galleries. Construction began in 1255 for Florence's civic magistrates, and the severe crenellated building later served the city's police and prison system. Since 1865 it has been a national museum, where Renaissance sculpture can be considered in a building shaped by public authority rather than a grand-ducal residence.
What to look for
- Read the crenellated palace as an early Florentine civic building and a model for Palazzo Vecchio.
- Look for the 1401 Sacrifice of Isaac competition designs by Ghiberti and Brunelleschi.
- Pair the sculpture galleries with the collections of maiolica, textiles, armour, coins and ivories.
Useful to know
- Allow time for the building as well as the sculpture; its former civic and prison roles are part of the visit.
- Use the Baptistery's door competition panels as a link to the nearby Piazza del Duomo.