On January 19th, the Orsanmichele Museum in Florence reopened to the public. A captivating place, rich in history and artworks, with breathtaking views of the city. A must-visit destination in Florence!
A Bit of History
Originally built as an oratory dedicated to Saint Michael in the 9th century, Orsanmichele was a Benedictine convent for a long time. Later, it was transformed into a grain market, and in 1284, Arnolfo di Cambio constructed the grand loggia for trade.
In 1290, the “Madonna del Grano” fresco was added, bestowing numerous miracles, and making Orsanmichele both a place of worship and commerce. After a fire in the early 1300s, the structure was redesigned, and in 1337, it took the form we see today.
Orsanmichele has a unique and fascinating structure with 14 niches on the facades, housing masterpieces from the Florentine Quattrocento commissioned by the city’s Arts. Inside, a marvelous and majestic tabernacle by Andrea Orcagna holds Bernardo Daddi’s Madonna delle Grazie.
In 1569, Cosimo I de’ Medici transformed the first floor into an archive, and since then, it has always been a place dedicated to culture.
The Museum today
After recent renovations, Orsanmichele has become a new museum in Florence, part of the Bargello Museums.
With the entrance ticket (costing €8), visitors can explore three museum spaces: the ground floor featuring the astonishing tabernacle, the first floor housing original sculptures by great Florentine masters, and the second and last floor offering a breathtaking view of Florence and its main monuments.
The museum is open from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, while on Sundays, it opens from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, and closes on Tuesday. The ticket office is located on Via dei Calzaioli.
