A tour of Florence is incomplete without a visit to one of the many museums and galleries. After all, Italy boasts some of the most celebrated Renaissance artists and sculptors the world has ever had.
Initially, we had wanted to visit Galleri dell Accademia to see one of the most famous sculptures in the world - Statute of David by Michelangelo, a masterpiece of the Renaissance. We had planned to purchase the entrance tickets only upon arriving at Florence. As it turned out, tickets were all sold out throughout the period we were in Florence. But, there is no shortage of museums in Florence and a bit of effort would surely land you into one. Eventually, we found a less famous one to spend the late afternoon of 20 May. By the time we enter Museo Nazionale del Bargello or the National Museum of Bargello, it was past 4.00pm and just about an hour before it closed for the day.
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| Hall of National Museum of Bargello. |
Left: Florence Triumphant over Pisa by Giambologna
Right: Baccus by Michelangelo Buonarroti
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| Brutus by Michelangelo Buonarroti. |
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In fact, Florence itself is an open museum. There are plenty of statutes and sculptures displayed in many prominent places for all to appreciate free of charge. Piazza dell Signoria or the Signoria Square is one ideal place where the public can view the outdoor art pieces for free. This was the main origin of Florence, both politic and culture. Many of the buildings date back to the 14th century.
At the southeast corner of Piazza dell Signoria is the Town Hall of Florence or Palazzo Vecchio.
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| Palazzo Vecchio, Town Hall of Florence - a 14th century building. |
Just outside the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio - the life-sized replica of the "Statute of David" by Michelangelo at the left side and "Hercules and Cacus" by Bartolomeo Bandinelli at the right side.
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At the south of Signoria Square and to the left of Palazzo Vecchio is the open-air sculpture gallery commonly referred to as Loggia del Lanzi.
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| Loggia del Lanzi. |
The Rape of Polyxena by Pio Fedi.
Left: The Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna.
Right: Perseus with the Head of Madusa by Benvenuto Cellini
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