Michelangelo Buonarroti is one of the most famous Italian artists and his name is closely connected to Florence because he grew up here and spent many years of his life in Florence. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of art and is renowned for his work in sculpture, painting, and architecture.
In Florence, visitors can see Michelangelo’s art in several museums. Here’s the list:
If you have time for visiting only one museum that houses Michelangelo’s art, head to the Accademia Gallery, home of the David statue. The sculpture was commissioned to Michelangelo in 1501 and since that time it has been considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance period. Five more Michelangelo’s artworks are housed in the same museum room: the unfinished sculptures of four prisoners and the statue of Saint Matthew. The Academy Gallery is the second most visited museum in Florence with the turnout of several millions of visitors a year and I highly recommend you to book your museum tickets or a tour in advance.
The Medici Chapels museum is a part of the Church of San Lorenzo and is home to several sculptures by Michelangelo. You can find his marble allegorical figures of Night and Day and Dawn and Dusk in the New Sacristy of San Lorenzo. The architectural and sculptural project for the burial site for Lawrence the Magnificent and his brother Giuliano was commissioned to the sculptor by Lawrence’s son, the Medici pope Leo X. The New Sacristy also has Michelangelo’s secret room, a small underground space with his sketches on the walls, where he was hiding from the Medici wrath for a couple of months in 1530.
The Laurentian Library is a part of the San Lorenzo complex so it is located just steps away from the Medici Chapels but it requires a separate entrance ticket. This magnificent reading space and a spectacular vestibule with an innovative staircase and unusual architectural elements was designed by Michelangelo on the Medici’s commission. The Library is considered to be one of the greatest achievements of Michelangelo’s architectural career.
The Bargello Museum is a former public administration palace, turned prison, that nowadays houses a vast collection of Renaissance sculpture including works by Michelangelo. Here you can admire some of his early works like the marble Bacchus and Tondo Pitti as well as those created during his mature years like the bust of Brutus and enigmatic David-Apollo.
The Casa Buonarroti museum is housed in the building that used to be Michelangelo’s relatives home. The last of the Buonarroti family has left the space with its incredible collection of Michelangelo’s drawings and sketches, his clay models, some of his personal objects and the artist’s very first marble sculptures, The Battle of Centaurs and Madonna della Scala, to the city of Florence.
Michelangelo’s marble sculptures, The Genius of Victory and Pieta’ Bandini can be seen in the Museum of Palazzo Vecchio and the Museum of Duomo.
As you can see, Michelangelo’s legacy is deeply intertwined with Florence and his art can be seen throughout the city. His work embodies the spirit of the Renaissance and continues to inspire and captivate visitors from all over the world.