Bargello

A visit to Bargello

The Bargello palace was built in 1255 to house the Florence City Council. Afterwards, it was employed as a prison; executions took place in the Bargello's yard until 1786.

Since 1865 has been a national museum (Museo Nazionale del Bargello), mostly of sculpture. The museum holds masterpieces by Michelangelo (such as his Bacchus), among others. Its collection includes Donatello's David and St. George Tabernacle, Jacopo Sansovino's Bacchus, Giambologna's La Archetectura and many works from the Della Robbia family.

The museum also has several armours and old coins. It also features the competing designs on Isaac's Sacrifice that were performed by Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi to win the contest for the second set of doors of the Florentine Baptistry (1401).