On your trip to Florence, you should go to the Uffizi, you should go to the Accademia and you should climb the cupola of the Duomo. With a list of shoulds however, your vacation can turn from relaxing to stressful in no time. Not to mention the standard shoulds make every tourist’s to do list, often resulting in crowded, uncomfortable, less-than awe-inspiring experiences. Luckily, the entire city of Florence is a treasure trove, and some of its best-kept secrets are hidden plain sight. One of my very favorite secrets is the Stefano Bardini Museum. Bardini was a ringer on the art scene in Florence in the late 19th century and early 20th as a connoisseur, restorer and collector. Bardini’s magnificent collection resides in the Palazzo Bardini in a picturesque neighborhood in the Oltrarno, just begging for you to come check it out.
From Palazzo Vecchio, exit on the south side of the Palazzo on Via della Ninna. Continue on Via dei Neri for several blocks until you reach Via dei Benci . Turn right and cross the Ponte alle Grazie. Once over the bridge, the Palazzo is an easy one block south at the corner of Via Renai. Sunday the museum will be open 11 am until 5 pm.
The Bardini Musuem will never make it on the radar of the average tourist. Their loss is your gain. The museum is a treasure chest of Classical, Medieval and Renaissance art and objects. While the arties will be excited to stumble upon some lesser-known Donatellos, a Giambologna and the original Porcellino, the true spectacle lies in the stuff. The everyday stuff that people used centuries ago – cassone chests, armor, birthing trays, tapestries. Unlike your typical museum, the Bardini offers a glimpse into the lives of honest to goodness Florentines from centuries ago. Let your imagination run wild.
Not only does the palazzo house one of the most unique art collections in all of Florence, but it is also a work of art itself. Stefano Bardini refurbished the palazzo himself in the late 18th century. Notice how he artfully integrated works of art into the structure. Doors, windows, pilasters and columns from another era are so beautifully integrated into the structure that in a way, the palazzo has become a part of the collection itself.
Stefano loved his city so much that he bequeathed his collection to Florence. It’s the little gems such as the Bardini Museum that will make you fall in love with the city, too.
