In 1881 Florence's Archaeological Museum was transferred to the 17 th-century Palazzo della Crocetta (built by Giulio Parigi for Cosimo II's sister, Maria Maddalena de'Medici) and in time it has acquired masterpieces from the Medici and Lorraine collections and fine examples of art from the Greek, Etruscan and Roman periods. The prestigious collection of large bronzes includes, for example, the famous Chimera, found near Arezzo in 1553, and the Orator, a bronze statue by the Estrucan sculptor, Aule Meteli. The collection of rare figured ceramics is equally prestigious and includes the large black figure François Vase (a large volute krater c. 570 B.C.). The Museum also has an important collection of marble sculptures and a group or rare Estrucan funerary artefacts, also extremely rare, with urns from the areas around Chiusi and Volterra and stone and marble tomb sculptures, including the famous painted Amazon sarcophagus (4th century B.C.). The neighbouring Egyptian Museum is also of great interest and in Italy is second only to the renowned collection in Turin. Adjacent to the Museum is a delightful garden which can be visited on Saturday mornings.
Piazza Santissima Annunziata, 9/B
open: Monday 14-19, Tuesday and Thursday 8.30-19, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 8.30-14
closed: 1 January, 1 May, 15 August, 25 December
Tel. +39055287860
E-mail:
