Things to do in Florence, Tuscany: The Best History Museums

October 29, 2021 Milan Banda

Florence is an art historian’s dream. The Galleria dell'Accademia bursts with works by Michelangelo, who is entombed within the frescoed walls of the Basilica di Santa Croce. Budding photographers can snap pics of the Ponte Vecchio bridge, and serious shoppers can spend a blissful afternoon wandering the shops of Piazza Santo Spirito. Tuscan cuisine pays homage to the region’s bounty. Swipe a hunk of crusty bread across a pool of local olive oil and you’ll be instantly transported to your happiest place.
Restaurants in Florence

1. Museo dell'Opera del Duomo

Piazza del Duomo 9, 50122, Florence Italy +39 055 230 2885 [email protected] http://www.ilgrandemuseodelduomo.it
Excellent
71%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,355 reviews

Museo dell'Opera del Duomo

For preservation purposes, many significant works have been moved from the Duomo to this nearby museum.

Reviewed By PRS48 - Brisbane, Australia

Not to be missed! The main room on the ground floor contains Ghiberti's original bronze doors of the baptistery as well as the statues which adorned the medieval facade of the cathedral. A visit here is a logical step after seeing the interior of the Duomo and the museum has relatively short queues, especially as it opens at 9 a.m.

2. Museo Galileo - Institute and Museum of the History of Science

Piazza De' Giudici 1, 50122, Florence Italy +39 055 265311 [email protected] http://www.museogalileo.it/en
Excellent
56%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,280 reviews

Museo Galileo - Institute and Museum of the History of Science

Housed in an old palace that was restored in the mid-1800s, this science museum houses an impressive collection of scientific instruments dating from the 13th century.

Reviewed By SelinaF_01 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

What a fascinating museum and welcome respite from art gallery overdose! The videos that further elaborated some of the exhibits were really interesting and educational (not to mention hypnotic)... we sat and watched quite a few. Amazing telescopes, Galileo’s actual middle finger, Peter Leopold’s chemistry cabinet, ancient globes, anatomical models - a dizzying array of exhibits that ensure this museum really packs a punch!

3. Corridoio Vasariano

Piazzale degli Uffizi, Florence Italy +39 055 294883 http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/musei/?m=vasariano
Excellent
66%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,016 reviews

Corridoio Vasariano

Reviewed By Flo-towner - Florence, Italy

Here you will get a glimpse of the De Medici Heritage and elegance.. Get away from the crowds for a spectacular experience in these corridors filled with some of Florences's best art.

4. Incredible Florence - Multimedia time machine experience

Via Por Santa Maria located 50 meters from Ponte Vecchio, 50122, Florence Italy +39 055 217418 [email protected] http://www.ctcrossmedia.com
Excellent
66%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 53 reviews

Incredible Florence - Multimedia time machine experience

Incredible Florence is an unprecedented journey through the 2000 years of Florence's history. An exciting, 40-minute-long multimedia production, conceived and produced by Crossmedia Group. In the unparalleled setting of Santo Stefano al Ponte, near to Ponte Vecchio, an immersive experience that is at once show and exhibition: the engrossing story of Florentine places, events, and great historical figures with their immotal works, becomes a unique opportunity to better know, understand and share as never before the incredible history of a city that is both a masterpiece and a world heritage site. Rich in special effects, 3-D reconstructions, multiple projections of images, and original filmed pieces, Incredible Florence gives audiences of all ages and origins, Italian and international, the opportunity to let themselves be led through the centuries, following a succession of different sensations. The exhibition area offers a complete and immersive use of multimedia, made possible by the exceptional visual impact of the images produced by the Matrix X-Dimension system, designed exclusively for this video installation. 24 laser projectors transmit over 40 million pixels onto the 11 giant screens of the impressive and striking set-up: just think that on the central and largest screen - 10x13m. (130 m2) - you will be able to enjoy a resolution 6 times greater than Full HD. The pleasant impression of the privileged experience of "being inside" a unique history is completed by the sound effects and the magnificent original soundtrack, composed for this purpose by the versatile musician Marco Lamioni, reproduced in extremely high quality by a state-of-the-art 3D audio system.

5. Museo della Misericordia di Firenze

Piazza del Duomo n. 20, 50122, Florence Italy +39 055 239 3917 [email protected] http://museo.misericordia.firenze.it
Excellent
62%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 29 reviews

Museo della Misericordia di Firenze

The Misericordia was born when the Dominican Pietro da Verona, arrived in Florence to fight the heretic patari. Citizens ‘companies were formed – the Companies of the Faith – which in a few months were the opponents’ right. At that point, laid down the sword, those same men cradled the rosary to devote themselves to works of mercy. And so, almost 8 centuries ago, an Institution was set up that put itself concretely at the service of the neighbor and became an example of boundless charity, inspiring the birth of numerous sisters: today there are 700 Misericordia in Italy in the world. The role played by the Florentine association, as shown by numerous archival documents, became more and more a social service. So that its history went to intertwine, firmly, with that of the city that was its cradle. Several times the Medici, the Lorraine, but also the now united Italy, turned to the Misericordia to solve problems of a collective nature.

Reviewed By amw4

We accidentally wandered here, thinking that we were going to another museum (Our Italian isn't that great!) and are happy that we did. We got a wonderful history lesson on the charitable work that has taken place in Florence (anonymously) for centuries during plagues, wars and other disasters. The museum had recently been renovated and we seemed to be the only visitors, but if you're interested in learning more about this beautiful city, give yourself an hour or so and enjoy the beautifully displayed artifacts of this association. It'll give you a different perspective of the way some people of means and education actually respected and cared for the poor. Another perk on a hot summer day is the air conditioning!

6. Museo della Pagliazza

Piazza Sant'Elisabetta Torre della Pagliazza, 50122, Florence Italy +39 055 27370 http://www.museionline.info/musei-firenze/item/museo-della-pagliazza.html
Excellent
0%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
67%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 3 reviews

Museo della Pagliazza

7. Scavi del Teatro Romano di Firenze-Palazzo Vecchio

Piazza della Signoria Palazzo Vecchio, 50122, Florence Italy http://museicivicifiorentini.comune.fi.it/en/palazzovecchio/scavi_teatro_romano.htm
Excellent
10%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
20%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 10 reviews

Scavi del Teatro Romano di Firenze-Palazzo Vecchio

8. Museo Casa di Dante

Via Santa Margherita 1, 50122, Florence Italy +39 055 219416 [email protected] http://www.museocasadidante.it/en/
Excellent
10%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
24%
Poor
21%
Terrible
28%
Overall Ratings

2.5 based on 821 reviews

Museo Casa di Dante

The Museum of Dante's House is waiting for you with a band new set-up! In the heart of medieval Florence, in one of the most fascinating buildings in the city, you'll have the chance to discover and rediscover one of the most important figures in Italian and international history and culture thanks to state-of-the-art technologies: touch screens, interactive tables, Virtual Reality and video mapping. An interactive, immersive, multisensory journey through the life and works of the Father of the Italian language, presented here in all his complexity: the man who loved his city, the warrior who defended it, the politician who was exiled from it and the Supreme Poet who sang of it until his death in the eternal tercets of his Divine Comedy.

Reviewed By Brilleto - Annapolis, United States

Our first stop was the Dante Museum, a recreated Medieval Tower House that looks ancient but is actually only fifty years old. I love the way the Italian builders can make the new look old and integrate a modern structure into the fabric of a Medieval city. Americans could learn a lot from the Italians when it comes to quality building design and construction. For more travel tips, check out my travel blog.

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