Museo del Bigallo
Small museum in the fourteenth-century Loggia del Bigallo, opposite the Baptistery, with artworks and memorabilia of Florentine confraternities.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Bigallo complex, in Piazza San Giovanni, dates from 1321, when the captains of the Compagnia della Misericordia bought a house with a tower from the Adimari family. Between 1352 and 1360, after the plague of 1348, the oratory and the loggia were added, intended for prayer and for sheltering orphaned or abandoned children. In 1425 the Compagnia del Bigallo moved into the building; the two confraternities joined for a short time and separated in 1489, and from 1525 the Bigallo was its sole owner. In the loggia, lost or abandoned children were displayed so that they could be recognised.
The arches were walled up in 1698 and reopened in 1865; restorations followed in 1880–1882, in 1925, in the 1960s, in 2000 and, for the façade, in 2018.
The museum was arranged in 1904, gathering works scattered among the properties of the Opera, and was rearranged in 1976. It occupies three rooms and holds, among other things, a crucifix attributed to the Master of the Bigallo, sculptures by Alberto Arnoldi, a portable triptych by Bernardo Daddi of 1333, paintings by Niccolò di Pietro Gerini, an altarpiece with predella by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio, and the fresco of the Misericordia Domini, which shows one of the oldest views of Florence. The building still belongs to the Opera Pia del Bigallo.
Highlights
- Fourteenth-century Gothic loggia with reliefs by Alberto Arnoldi
- Crucifix by the Master of the Bigallo
- Portable triptych by Bernardo Daddi
- Fresco of the Misericordia Domini with an ancient view of Florence
- Altarpiece with predella by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio
Permanent exhibition
- Collezione del Museo del Bigallo – Three rooms with artworks from the 14th to the 16th century and memorabilia of the Bigallo and Misericordia confraternities.
- Founded
- 1904
- Operated by
- Opera Pia del Bigallo
- Visitors per year
- approx. 1,000
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
