Convento di Bosco ai Frati – Museo di San Bonaventura

About the museum

The convent of Bosco ai Frati, in San Piero a Sieve, is considered the oldest in the Franciscan province of Tuscany. According to tradition, the settlement arose around the 7th century on the initiative of the Ubaldini family, was entrusted to Basilian monks and, from 1209–1212, to the Franciscan friars. It was here, in July 1273, that Bonaventure of Bagnoregio received the insignia of a cardinal.

Between about 1427 and 1436, at the wish of Cosimo il Vecchio (Cosimo the Elder) de’ Medici, the church and convent were rebuilt to a design by Michelozzo. The Medici patronage brought works of art and a large library; the famous altarpiece by Beato Angelico was transferred to Florence in 1777. From 2006 to 2019 the Francescani dell’Immacolata (Franciscans of the Immaculate) lived here; from 7 January 2020 the convent returned to the frati minori (Friars Minor) of Tuscany.

In the former Sala del Capitolo (Chapter House) a small sacred art museum has been set up, housing the wooden Crucifix attributed to Donatello, which was found in the crypt in 1953 by Alessandro Parronchi and restored until 1960. The church contains paintings by Jacopo Ligozzi, Cigoli, Antonio del Ceraiolo and Vincenzo Rustici, while the convent also preserves terracottas, plaster casts and a valuable library.

Highlights

• Wooden Crucifix attributed to Donatello in the Chapter House
• Convent rebuilt by Michelozzo for Cosimo il Vecchio
• Paintings by Ligozzi, Cigoli, Antonio del Ceraiolo and Rustici
• Madonna and Child enthroned by Mariotto di Nardo di Cione
• Historic library of the convent

Permanent exhibition

• Museo d'arte sacra nella Sala del Capitolo – Small museum in the former Chapter House with the wooden Crucifix attributed to Donatello and other sacred works from the convent.

Founded

1975

Operated by

Frati Minori della Toscana (OFM)

Visitors per year

approx. 8,339

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission; guided tours are also free.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Bookshop in the convent with guides and mini guides in Italian, English, French, German and Dutch.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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