Museo Stefano Bardini

Description:

• After being closed for more than 10 years, on April 4th 2009 the Museo Bardini reopened, completely restored. With its blue walls, it has recovered its original characteristic colors. The works on display belonged to the collection that Florentine antique dealer Stefano Bardini donated to the city of Florence in 1922. Bardini was considered the most authoritative Italian art dealer, and his exhibition settings influenced the look of several foreign museums. In 1881 he bought the building (a former convent) , radically restored it, and changed into a sort of neo-renaissance palace to house his private collection of statues, paintings and pieces of furniture. All the works have been put back with some new important additions. Among them are the original 385-year-old bronze statue of the Porcellino (the replica of this statue is at the market place and tourists usually rub the piglet nose for luck) and the Florentine Marzocco, the lion symbol of the city. - Maria Frullini
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