Rick Steves Tour: Bargello Museum, Florence

Bargello Tour

ORIENTATION

THE TOUR BEGINS

Courtyard

Ground Floor

Map: Bargello—Ground Floor

First Floor

Map: Bargello—First Floor

The Rest of the Bargello

The Renaissance began with sculpture. The great Florentine painters were “sculptors with brushes.” You can see the birth of this revolution of 3-D in the Bargello (bar-JEL-oh), which boasts the best collection of Florentine sculpture.

You’ll see Donatello’s David, a sly little boy who slew a giant. The museum has the original contest panels for the Baptistery doors, the event that kicked off the Renaissance. And there are several Michelangelo statues—less-famous works that show off different aspects of his varied style.

The Bargello is relatively small and uncrowded, a pleasant break from the intensity of the rest of city. After enduring the intensity of the Uffizi, take a quiet stroll through the Bargello, and immerse yourself in the ambience of Renaissance Florence.

ORIENTATION

Cost: €7 (or €4 if no special exhibits), cash only, free and crowded on first Sun of the month, covered by Firenze Card.

Hours: Tue-Sat 8:15-17:00, until 13:50 if there are no special exhibits; also open second and fourth Mon and first, third, and fifth Sun of each month. You can reserve an entrance time, but it’s unnecessary. Tel. 055-238-8606, www.polomuseale.firenze.it.

Getting There: Via del Proconsolo 4, a two-minute walk northeast of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Getting In: You must pass through a metal detector to enter. No liquids are allowed in the museum.

Tours: Audioguide rentals are €6 (€10/2 people).

Length of This Tour: Allow one hour.

With Limited Time: See the Michelangelo room on the ground floor and the Donatello room on the first floor.

Photography: Permitted without flash.

Starring: Michelangelo, Donatello, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, and four different Davids.

THE TOUR BEGINS

Courtyard M

Buy your ticket and take a seat in the courtyard.