Tour n° 8: Opera del Duomo Museum

Opera del Duomo Museum

When the city of Florence decided to build the new cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore at the end of the 13th century, an institution was immediately created, called the Opera del Duomo, which was to
oversee not only its construction but also its decoration and finally its maintenance. The historical seat of this great institution, in addition to rooms acquired later, houses
today houses the Museum of the Opera del Duomo. Completely restored recently, the Museum houses the original works of art that have decorated the monuments of Florence’s religious centre for centuries: the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the
Bell Tower, offering visitors an extraordinary sample of Florentine sculpture, goldsmithing and decorative art from the Middle Ages to the late Renaissance.

Among the countless works on display, here one can admire the sculptures of Arnolfo di Cambio, presented in a scenographic setting that recreates the façade of the cathedral; the splendid
bronze doors of the baptistery, including the so-called ‘Paradise’ door by Lorenzo Ghiberti . And more works by Donatello, including the Prophets, his wooden Magdalen, and the beautiful marble Cantoria,
which dialogues with Luca della Robbia’s masterpiece of the same name. Of particular note is the room dedicated to the models of Brunelleschi’s Dome, with materials and tools he actually designed and
used.

And finally, Michelangelo’s marvellous Pietà, known as the ‘Bandini’, which was for a long time a fixture in the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. So the numerous works on display, their high historical and artistic value, and finally the spectacular museum layout, make a visit to this museum a truly unique experience.