Museo Horne
House museum in the late 15th-century Palazzo Corsi, with the art collection of the Englishman Herbert Horne, from the 15th to the 16th century.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum originated from the donation to the Italian State made in 1916 by the English architect and collector Herbert Percy Horne of his art collection and of the late 15th-century palace in via dei Benci in which he lived. In his will of 12 April 1916 Horne asked that the bequest be used for the benefit of scholarship, imagining the museum as a place for the study of history and art.
The museum opened to the public in 1921 thanks to the work of Carlo Gamba and Giovanni Poggi, friends of Horne and the first members of the Foundation. In 2002 the Educational Service was established, and from 2004 the basement spaces of the palace have housed spaces for research, teaching and temporary exhibitions. Between 2020 and 2024 restoration and adaptation works brought a lift linking the floors and the renewal of the educational spaces.
The collection allows visitors to relive the customs, costumes and art of Florence between the 15th and 16th centuries, in a house furnished with paintings, sculptures, furniture and objects of everyday use. The Foundation also looks after the Sala Grande di Casa Vasari, in Borgo Santa Croce, which can be visited by reservation.
Highlights
- House museum of an English collector in the 15th-century Palazzo Corsi
- Paintings, sculptures, furniture and everyday objects of the Florentine Renaissance
- Digital guide and free catalogue
- Tactile visits and visits in Italian Sign Language (LIS)
- Sala Grande di Casa Vasari, visitable by reservation
Permanent exhibition
- La collezione Horne – Art collection and furnishings of an English collector in the Palazzo Corsi, with paintings, sculptures and everyday objects from the 15th and 16th centuries.
- Founded
- 1921
- Operated by
- Fondazione Horne
- Director
- Elisabetta Nardinocchi
- Visitors per year
- approx. 10,006
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6students up to age 26, teachers, over-65s, organised groups (at least 10 people), members of ICOM, FAI, Touring Club, Unicoop and ACI, and holders of the ticket of the Museo Galileo or of the Complesso monumentale di Santa Croce |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 5 · Free admission under 6. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and their companions, including for the museum's activities. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €6 per personReduced ticket for organised groups; booking free but compulsory for groups of more than 10 people and for schools. |
| Casa Vasari (Sala Grande) with entry to the Museo Horne | €12Reduced €8 |
Free also for tourist guides, journalists, teachers and accompanying teachers of school groups, and teachers with an EduMusei Card. The museum is part of the Firenzecard circuit.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
A lift connects the floors of the palace; on the first floor there is a rest room. By reservation, visits with an Italian Sign Language (LIS) interpreter and tactile visits for blind or partially sighted visitors are available, with some original works to touch, 3D reproductions and sound commentaries; multisensory routes for people with cognitive disabilities and activities for people with dementia. Bookings: segreteria@museohorne.it, tel. +39 055 244661.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Family activities with an animated visit and a creative workshop on Saturday or Sunday mornings at 10:30, lasting about two hours, by reservation. Workshops and routes for schools of all levels.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
ATAF bus lines 23, C1 and C3.
The museum is located at Via dei Benci 6, in the historic centre of Florence.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (IT, EN, FR, ES) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The rooms have no captions or panels: the museum offers a digital guide for smartphones and tablets (Italian, English, French, Spanish) and a catalogue that can be downloaded free of charge. Guided tours and activities for adult groups and schools by reservation at +39 055 244661 (every day 10:00–14:00) or at segreteria@museohorne.it. |
