Opera del Duomo Museum of Florence
The Opera del Duomo Museum is a true institution in Florence: its collection of works of art goes from the end of the 1200s to the 1800s and is one of the most important in Europe. After 3 years of restoration on 29 October 2015, it finally re-opened its doors, bigger, more stunning than ever and completely renovated.
The new exhibition, designed by the Florentine architect Adolfo Natalini, expands the museum in the spaces of the former Intrepidi Theater, for a total of 750 works of art on a route divided into 25 rooms.
- Read also my guide for visiting the Duomo of Florence
Visit the Opera del Duomo Museum in Florence
The Opera del Duomo Museum gathers statues, paintings, sacred furnishings, architectural fragments that have alternated over the centuries within the Cathedral and the Baptistery of Florence. Some pieces, like the choir of the Duomo sculpted by Baccio Bandinelli, were removed because the taste had changed and it was preferred to simplify the internal architecture. Others were removed from the original site to restore them and protect them from damage, such as the wooden Maddalena by Donatello. It was originally located inside the Baptistery and was severely damaged by the 1966 flood.
The great hall that you meet just entered is the most beautiful and spectacular of the whole museum: it’s the one in which the ancient façade of the Florence Cathedral was reconstructed. The original façade was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio at the beginning of the ‘300 and demolished by Francesco I at the end of the 16th century. The original statues have been preserved and placed on a faux façade. Those statues were carved by some of the greatest Florentine sculptors of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, such as Arnolfo di Cambio, Donatello, and Nanni di Banco.
Facing the reconstructed façade, just as if we were in Piazza San Giovanni, there are the two doors of the Baptistery built in the 1400 by Lorenzo Ghiberti (the third, the medieval one by Andrea Pisano, is being restored and will soon be exhibited at the museum with the others two. At the Baptistery there are copies instead). The first to be built by Ghiberti starting in 1403 was the north gate, that of the famous competition with Brunelleschi. The other, begun in 1425, is the famous Gates of Paradise, Porta del Paradiso, the Renaissance masterpiece of the Florentine sculptor.
The upper gallery is dedicated to the reliefs and sculptures of Giotto’s bell tower. Here are exhibited the panels carved by Andrea Pisano and Luca della Robbia, and the statues that decorated the upper level: the most famous are the prophets sculpted by Donatello, better known as the Zuccone and the Popolano.
But the masterpieces of the collection do not end here, there are so many other works not to be missed. For example, the Maddalena by Donatello, the most exciting and famous wooden sculpture of this artist. And then the two choirs, one by Donatello and the other by Luca della Robbia, and the Pietà Bandini by Michelangelo, sculpted by the artist for his own grave. Among the sacred furnishings not to be missed are the magnificent silver altar of Saint John, to which Verrocchio, Ghiberti, Pollaiolo and Michelozzo worked, and the Parato di San Giovanni, a sacred vestment with precious embroideries designed by Pollaiolo.
You might be interested also into:
- Best museums in Florence you shouldn’t miss
- the Accademia Museum with Michelangelo’s David.
In the 25 rooms there are many other important works of art and with fascinating stories to tell: visiting the Opera del Duomo Museum means taking a journey through time and art through 700 years of history of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. And if we’ll visit it together, I will reveal all its secrets to you!
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo: visitor’s information
The museum is located in Piazza del Duomo 9, in the historic headquarters of the Opera del Duomo, the institution founded by the Florentine Republic for over 700 years dealing with the construction, maintenance and restoration of the Cathedral and Baptistery. The museum is open every day from 9 to 19.00. I advise you to double-check on the official website.
The ticket for the museum is a single ticket that also includes the entrance to the Baptistery, the descent into the crypt of Santa Reparata (inside the Cathedral) and the climbs to Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Brunelleschi’s Dome. It costs 20 euro and has a duration of 72 hours.
Private tour of the Opera del Duomo Museum
Do you want to visit the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo on a private tour together with a tour guide?
- Duration: 2 hours
- Meeting Point: in front of the museum entrance
- Included: a licensed local tour guide
- Not included: museum tickets
Fill the form for having more info, prices and for booking your tour. I will be more than happy to take you in one of my favorite museums in Florence!