Sneak Peek At The Renovated Opera dell'Duomo In Florence
SIlver Alter with a beheaded San Giovanni , Andrea del Verrocchio
Cathdral Museum, Hall of the Maddalena di Donatello
The stunning Bandinelliano choir room in Florence's revamped Opera del Duomo museum
The chorus by Donatello made in 1433
Filippo Brunelleschi Model of the Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, c. 1420-1436
The creation of Eve, from Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise for the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence (now In the Opera del Duomo museum)
Michelangelo's Pieta, sculpted by Michelangelo in his later years, between 1547 and 1555
North door of the baptistery, Jesus walking over water and saved Peter, 1403-24
One of the most impressive restoration projects in the world, after 45 million euros spent, some of Florence's most important medieval and Renaissance sculptures have a new home in the revamped space in the expanded Museo dell’Opera del Duomo which will open to the public next week, on October 29th. I had the chance to attend the press preview yesterday and there was a vibrant energy in the air as we toured the three floors, housing over 750 works, 200 displayed for the first time in the 25 exhibit halls.
The museum was initially established in 1891 to preserve the masterpieces that were recovered from some of Florence’s main architectural sites, among the most famous works, Michelangelo's Pietà, originally meant for Michelangelo’s own tomb and made when Michelangelo was almost 80. It portrays the artist lowering Christ’s body into Mary’s arms.
Many of the pieces include those by famous artists such as Andrea Pisano, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Donatello, Luca della Robbia, Antonio Pollaiuolo, Andrea del Verrocchio, Michelangelo Buonarroti were made to be housed in the exterior or interior areas of the Duomo and baptistery. Reuniting works made to stand in close proximity but later separated, the installation in this 1500 square foot space will reactivate the dialogue between Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the early and later Renaissance that once made Florence famous. From precious liturgical textiles to twenty-seven embroidered panels designed by Pollaiuolo in the 1460s, there is much to see in this important place. Including a panoramic terrace on the 3rd floor.
The museum will be open daily from from 9.00 am to 7:00 pm. A single ticket of 15 euro including the visit to the Museum and in addition the Baptistry, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Brunelleschi's Dome, the Crypt of Santa Reparata. On October 29th, the museum will be open to the public for free from 3pm-6pm,
