Welcome to the Bargello, the museum where statues have more “poses” than many modern influencers.
Here you will find Michelangelo, Donatello and a series of Renaissance geniuses ready to remind you that, they were extraordinary….and without Photoshop.
We will walk in an ancient medieval palace that was once the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, ( Captain of the people ) then seat of the “Bargello”, the head of the Florentine police.
It was the place of power.. not as relaxing as today.
It was also a prison, and public executions were held in its courtyard.
The great change comes in 1786, when the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena abolisches in Tuscany the death penalty, torture and corporal punishment.
Tuscany on 30 November 1786 becomes the first state in the world to legally abolish the death penalty.
The Bargello was the first Italian museum dedicated to sculpture and opened in 1865.
The works not to be missed are many; certainly the famous bronze David and the San Giorgio by Donatello, the Bacchus by Michelangelo, the Flying Mercury by Giambologna, the famous statue Woman with flowers ( italian Dama col mazzolino ) by Verrocchio, Leonardo da Vinci’s famous master the latter studied in his workshop for some years… it seems that the hands are the work of the famous genius!