The Bargello, also known as the or ("Palace of the People"), is a former public building and police headquarters, later a prison, in

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. Mostly built in the 13th century, since 1865 it has housed the , a national art museum. It is the primary national collection for

Italian Renaissance sculpture Italian Renaissance sculpture was an important part of the art of the Italian Renaissance, in the early stages arguably representing the leading edge. The example of Ancient Roman sculpture hung very heavily over it, both in terms of style and t ...

, of which its collection of Florentine works is unequalled, and for the decorative arts of Florence, especially from the Renaissance period. There are also works from earlier and later periods. The medieval building is relatively well preserved, and includes the ''Cappella della Maddalena'' (Magdalen Chapel) with extensive but damaged

fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...

s by

Giotto Giotto di Bondone (; – January 8, 1337), known mononymously as Giotto, was an List of Italian painters, Italian painter and architect from Florence during the Late Middle Ages. He worked during the International Gothic, Gothic and Italian Ren ...

, including a full-length portrait of

Dante Dante Alighieri (; most likely baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri; – September 14, 1321), widely known mononymously as Dante, was an Italian Italian poetry, poet, writer, and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called ...

. In 2023 it was the 12th most visited museum in Italy, with 610,203 visitors; it generally lacks the long queues to enter the

Uffizi The Uffizi Gallery ( ; , ) is a prominent art museum adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria in the Historic Centre of Florence in the region of Tuscany, Italy. One of the most important Italian museums and the most visited, it is also one of th ...

Name

The word ''bargello'' appears to come from the late

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

''bargillus'' (from Gothic ''bargi'' and German ''burg''), meaning "castle" or "fortified tower". During the Italian

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

it was the name given to a military captain in charge of keeping peace and justice (hence "Captain of justice") during riots and uproars. In Florence he was usually hired from a foreign city to prevent any appearance of favoritism on the part of the Captain. The position could be compared with that of a current Chief of police. The name Bargello was extended to the building which was the office of the captain.

History

Construction began in 1255. The palace was built to house first the

Capitano del Popolo Captain of the people () was an administrative title used in Italy during the Middle Ages, established essentially to balance the power and authority of the noble families of the Italian city-states.Najemy, John M. 2006. ''A History of Florence 1 ...

and later, in 1261, the '

podestà (), also potestate or podesta in English, was the name given to the holder of the highest civil office in the government of the cities of central and northern Italy during the Late Middle Ages. Sometimes, it meant the chief magistrate of a c ...

', the highest magistrate of the Florence

City Council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough counc ...

. This Palazzo del Podestà, as it was originally called, is the oldest public building in Florence. This austere

crenellated A battlement, in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet (a defensive low wall between chest-height and head-height), in which gaps or indentations, which are often rectangular, occur at intervals ...

building served as model for the construction of the

Palazzo Vecchio The ( "Old Palace") is the town hall of Florence, Italy. It overlooks the , which holds a copy of Michelangelo's ''David'' statue, and the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi. Originally called the ''Palazzo della Signoria'', a ...

. In 1574, the

Medici The House of Medici ( , ; ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first consolidated power in the Republic of Florence under Cosimo de' Medici and his grandson Lorenzo "the Magnificent" during the first half of the 15th ...

dispensed with the function of the ''Podestà'' and housed the ''bargello'', the police chief of Florence, in this building, hence its name. In 1479 Bernardo Bandini Baroncelli, one of the movers of the Pazzi conspiracy against the

Medici family The House of Medici ( , ; ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first consolidated power in the Republic of Florence under Cosimo de' Medici and his grandson Lorenzo "the Magnificent" during the first half of the 15th ...

was hanged from the building, an event witnessed and sketched by

Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 1452 - 2 May 1519) was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. While his fame initially rested o ...

. It was employed as a prison; executions took place in the Bargello's courtyard until they were abolished by Grand Duke Peter Leopold in 1786, but it remained the headquarters of the Florentine police until 1859. After an interval, it then became a national museum. The original two-storey structure was built alongside the Volognana Tower in 1256. The third storey, which can be identified by the smaller blocks used to construct it, was added after the fire of 1323. The building is designed around an open courtyard dating from 1280-1285. An external staircase leading to the second floor was added between 1345-1367 under master builder Neri di Fioravante. An open well is found in the centre of the courtyard. After centuries of modifications to its architecture, the building was restored to its original form between 1858 and 1865. The Bargello opened as a national museum (''Museo Nazionale del Bargello'') in 1865, displaying the largest Italian collection of Gothic and Renaissance sculptures (14–17th century). Administratively, the museum heads a group, the ''Musei del Bargello'', with four smaller museums in Florence: the Medici Chapels, Orsanmichele, Palazzo Davanzati, and Casa Martelli. Image:Il Bargello.jpg, Exterior File:Palazzo del bargello visto da piazza san firenze.JPG, another view File:03 2015 Cortile-scalone-loggia-stemmi-bifora-volte a crocera, finestre polilobate cuspidate-ordine corinzio-pilastri ottagonali-leone-Museo nazionale del Bargello (Firenze) Photo Paolo Villa FOTO9234bisimg 0001.jpg, Stairs and inner courtyard File:Firenze - Museo nazionale del Bargello - 2024-09-29 15-13-25 001.JPG, Courtyard Image:Bargello Courtyard 2007.jpg, Inner courtyard File:Bargello, lato via ghibellina 01.JPG, Rear, on via ghibellina

Collection

Sculpture

There is a good selection of medieval sculpture. The museum has both the

modelli A modello (plural modelli), from Italian, is a preparatory study or model, usually at a smaller scale, for a work of art or architecture, especially one produced for the approval of the commissioning patron. The term gained currency in art circl ...

of the finalists' designs for ''The Sacrifice of Isaac'' (''Sacrificio di Isacco''), for the contest for the second set of doors of the

Florence Baptistery The Florence Baptistery, also known as the Baptistery of Saint John (), is a religious building in Florence, Italy. Dedicated to the patron saint of the city, John the Baptist, it has been a focus of religious, civic, and artistic life since its ...

in 1401. That by

Lorenzo Ghiberti Lorenzo Ghiberti (, , ; 1378 – 1 December 1455), born Lorenzo di Bartolo, was an Italian Renaissance sculptor from Florence, a key figure in the Early Renaissance, best known as the creator of two sets of bronze doors of the Florence Baptister ...

won, with

Filippo Brunelleschi Filippo di ser Brunellesco di Lippo Lapi (1377 – 15 April 1446), commonly known as Filippo Brunelleschi ( ; ) and also nicknamed Pippo by Leon Battista Alberti, was an Italian architect, designer, goldsmith and sculptor. He is considered to ...

's the runner-up. The most famous sculptures are several by both Michelangelo and Donatello. Large sculptures by

Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...

are his ''Bacchus'', '' Pitti Tondo'' (a

Madonna and Child In Christian art, a Madonna () is a religious depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a singular form or sometimes accompanied by the Child Jesus. These images are central icons for both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. The word ...

), ''

Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus (; ; 85 BC – 23 October 42 BC) was a Roman politician, orator, and the most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar. After being adopted by a relative, he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, which was reta ...

'' and '' David-Apollo''. A wood ''Crucifix'' attributed to his early years was acquired in 2008. Its collection includes both

Donatello Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), known mononymously as Donatello (; ), was an Italian Renaissance sculpture, Italian sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sc ...

's ''

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals (such as phosphorus) or metalloid ...

'' and marble statues of ''David'', as well as his ''

Amore-Attis ''Amor-Attis'' (''Cupid-Attis'', or ''Atys-Amor'' and other variations) is a bronze sculpture by Donatello of c. 1440–1443. It is 104 cm high and has traces of its original gilding, and is now in the Museo del Bargello in Florence. With ...

'', ''

Saint George Saint George (;Geʽez: ጊዮርጊስ, , ka, გიორგი, , , died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was an early Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to holy tradition, he was a soldier in the ...

'', with its

relief Relief is a sculpture, sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''wikt:relief, relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give ...

for the base of '' Saint George Freeing the Princess'', and his heraldic ''

Marzocco The ''Marzocco'' is the lion (heraldry), heraldic lion that is a symbol of Florence, and was apparently the first piece of public secular sculpture commissioned by the Republic of Florence, in the late 14th century. The lion stood at the hea ...

''. Other sculptures include Jacopo Sansovino's ''

Bacchus In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; ) is the god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre. He was also known as Bacchus ( or ; ) by the Gre ...

'', the ''

David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Dam ...

'' and '' Dama col mazzolino'' by

Andrea del Verrocchio Andrea del Verrocchio ( , , ; born Andrea di Michele di Francesco de' Cioni; – 1488) was an Italian sculpture, sculptor, List of Italian painters, painter and goldsmith who was a master of an important workshop in Florence. He apparently bec ...

. Other works of sculpture include several by the Della Robbia family workshop. and by Antonio Rossellino, Bartolomeo Ammannati, Bertoldo di Giovanni, Baccio Bandinelli, and most other Florentine masters of the period.

Benvenuto Cellini Benvenuto Cellini (, ; 3 November 150013 February 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, and author. His best-known extant works include the ''Cellini Salt Cellar'', the sculpture of ''Perseus with the Head of Medusa'', and his autobiography ...

is represented by his bronze bust of Cosimo I. The final phase of the Renaissance is represented by Giambologna's marble '' Florence Triumphant over Pisa'', ''Architecture'', ''The Dwarf Morgante Riding a Sea Monster'', and his ''Mercury''. The courtyard and the arcades around it have been used to display numerous reliefs and other works. There are a few works from the Baroque period, notably Gianlorenzo Bernini's 1636-7 '' Bust of Costanza Bonarelli''. Vincenzo Gemito's ''Pescatore'' ("fisherboy"), is a popular 19th-century sculpture. ;Sculpture (large) Tino di camaino, cariatide allegorica, 1318-19.jpg, ''Allegorical

Caryatid A caryatid ( ; ; ) is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head. The Greek term ''karyatides'' literally means "maidens of Karyai", an ancient t ...

,'' Tino di Camaino, 1318/19 Madonna, Umbrien, 14. Jht., Bargello Florenz-01.jpg, ''Madonna Enthroned,''

Umbria Umbria ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region of central Italy. It includes Lake Trasimeno and Cascata delle Marmore, Marmore Falls, and is crossed by the Tiber. It is the only landlocked region on the Italian Peninsula, Apennine Peninsula. The re ...

, 14th ct. Firenze Museo del Bargello Interno Collezione Sala Bruzzichelli.jpg, Umbrian '' Virgin of Mercy'' (15. ct.) in the Bruzzichelli Hall Michele da firenze, madonna col bambino, 1420-50 ca.jpg, ''Virgin and Child,'' Michele da Firenze, 1420–50 Luca della Robbia, Madonna of the Rosebush, 1450-60, Bargello, Florence.jpg, Luca della Robbia, ''Madonna of the Rosebush,'' 1450–60 File:Andrea della robbia, ritratto di gentildonna, 1465-70.jpg, Andrea della Robbia, ''Portrait of a Womman,'' 1465–70 File:Desiderio da Settignano, portrait bust of Niccolò Uzzano, painted terracotta, c1450, Bargello, Florence.jpg, Niccolo da Uzzano, probably by Desiderio da Settignano (not

as once thought), painted

terracotta Terracotta, also known as terra cotta or terra-cotta (; ; ), is a clay-based non-vitreous ceramic OED, "Terracotta""Terracotta" MFA Boston, "Cameo" database fired at relatively low temperatures. It is therefore a term used for earthenware obj ...

, c. 1450 Benedetto da maiano, ritratto di pietro mellini, 1474 ca. 01.jpg, ''Bust of Pietro Melllini'' by Benedetto da Maiano, 1474 File:Florence - David by Donatello.jpg, The bronze ''

'' by Donatello (1440s) File:Antonio del pollaiolo, ercole e anteo, 01.JPG, Antonio del Pollaiolo, ''Hercules and Antaeus'', c. 1478 File:Michelangelo, tondo pitti.jpg,

's '' Pitti Tondo,'' 1503/04 File:Michelangelo Bacchus.jpg, ''Bacchus'', Michelangelo File:Giovan francesco rustici, zuffa di cavalieri, 1505 ca. 02.jpg, '' Battle of Anghiari'', Giovan Francesco Rustici after Leonardo da Vinci, 1505 File:Tullio lombardo, busto di cristo, 1520, donazione eredi de carlo al bargello 01.JPG, ''Bust of Christ'', Tullio Lombardo, 1520 File:Die Architektur, Giambologna, ca. 1570, Bargello Florenz-01.jpg, ''Allegory of Architecture,'' Giambologna, c. 1570 File:Gianlorenzo bernini, ritratto di costanza bonarelli, 1637-38, 02.JPG, '' Bust of Costanza Bonarelli'',

Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, ; ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 1598 – 28 November 1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prominently the leading sculptor ...

, 1637/38 File:Bargello Gemito 02.JPG, ''Il Pescatorello'' ("The Fisherboy"), Vincenzo Gemito, 1876

Other

The museum has a number of paintings, though nothing like the primary Florentine collection in the

, including the eponymous work by the 15th-century Master of the Bargello Tondo, and many painted '' cassoni'' (wedding chests) and '' desci da parto'' (painted birthing trays). In the

decorative arts ] The decorative arts are arts or crafts whose aim is the design and manufacture of objects that are both beautiful and functional. This includes most of the objects for the interiors of buildings, as well as interior design, but typically excl ...

, the museum has a fine collection of ceramics, especially

maiolica Maiolica is tin-glazed pottery decorated in colours on a white background. The most renowned Italian maiolica is from the Renaissance period. These works were known as ''istoriato'' wares ("painted with stories") when depicting historical and ...

, textiles, tapestries, ivory, nielli,

medal A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be in ...

s, silver,

armour Armour (Commonwealth English) or armor (American English; see American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, e ...

and coins. The right-hand panel of the

Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons, in some contexts simply called Saxons or the English, were a Cultural identity, cultural group who spoke Old English and inhabited much of what is now England and south-eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. They traced t ...

bone Franks Casket is in the museum. Some of these are of international importance: the Italian nielli are arguably the best collection in the world, as is the collection of Italian Renaissance medals. The Bargello style of needlework has no actual connection with the museum, except that the best collection of early examples is there. The Islamic Hall at the Bargello was set up in 1982 by Marco Spallanzani and Giovanni Curatola at the direction of Paola Barocchi and Giovanna Gaeta Bertelà, then the director. File:Art romana, fondi di coppe in vetro dorato, 350-400 circa 06.jpg, Roman

gold glass Gold glass or gold sandwich glass is a luxury form of glass where a decorative design in gold leaf is fused between two layers of glass. First found in Hellenistic Greece, it is especially characteristic of the Roman glass of the Late Roman Em ...

cup bottom, 350-400 File:Impératrice Ariane.JPG, ''Empress Ariane'', Byzantine ivory, 6th century File:Aquamanile - Bargello Mac' Hornu.JPG, Aquamanile with mounted Saint George (Mosan or Rhine region - c. 1400-1410) File:Firenze (attr.), celata veneziana da mostra, 1450-1500 riadattata nel XVII-XVIII sec.jpg, 15th-century parade helmet, with later work File:Antonio Vicentino, medaglia di Argentina Pallavicino.JPG, Antonio Vicentino, medal of Argentina Pallavicino File:Arte limosina, cofanetto in bronzo e smalti, xvi secolo 02.jpg, Casket in Renaissance painted

Limoges enamel Limoges enamel has been produced at Limoges, in south-western France, over several centuries up to the present. There are two periods when it was of European importance. From the 12th century to 1370 there was a large industry producing metal o ...

File:Alessandro allori, spalliere con gli amori di giove e grottesche, 1572, 03 §.jpg, Headboard with the ''Loves of Jupiter'', Alessandro Allori, 1572 (detail)

References

External links

* {{authority control Palaces in Florence Gothic architecture in Florence 1865 establishments in Italy Art museums and galleries established in 1865 Sculpture galleries in Italy Art museums and galleries in Florence Paintings by Giotto