Florence & Tuscany Guide / Museums / The Bigallo Museum

The concept of care

Come and mingle with the crowds that gather on the Square and trace a path of sympathy towards the Bigallo Museum. Knock on the doors as you stand on the Piazza Saint Giovanni, 1, and listen to the muted sounds behind the door filled with myriad segments of the elderly, the orphans, the poor and the homeless. Its wide doors open to a hospitable ambience and close on the bustling scene behind you. You are now inside the Bigallo Museum filled with the secrets of the origins of its inhabitants. Walk ahead and let its wondrous mysteries fill you with delight.

Come and find out how the Museo del Bigallo was planned. Listen very carefully to this true story…St. Peter the Martyr who led the Christian movement in Florence decided that it was time to create a caring and sharing institution, called the Compagnia della Misericordia. He wanted the people to find a haven of peace in a place that was teeming with misery, revenge and fighting. Go back in time and sit at the table with the religious authorities of Florence, the Compagnia Maggiore di Santa Maria del Fiore which became the Compagnia del Bigallo. Headquartered originally at Via Lamberti near Orsanmichele and ruled by the Archconfraternity of the Misericordia, the Company of Bigallo has been a source of great strength and protection for the needy people. In 1351, the Company was gifted with a house which was located on the corner of Corso Adimari and built the Loggia and the Oratory to house their important works of art.

A path to the virtue of charity

But even the holy institutions were not free from the politics of those times. The noble authorities of Florence decided that the Company of Bigallo should merge with that of the Company of Midericordia in 1425. Headed by Cosimo the Elder who was the Captain of the ruling authorities, who decided in 1446, that Ventura di Moro and Rosello di Jacopo Franchi should be commissioned to paint the ‘Stories of St. Pietro the Martyr’. This expressive and eloquent fresco was painted and sculpted on the external wall which is in the Oratory above the two arches to show that the two companies had merged together. The fresco though faded now still maintains its vibrant aura and passion.

Come and get involved with the evolving politics of Florence…The two Companies broke up in the year 1576. The Company of the Misericordia moved to the Piazza Duomo and the Loggia retained its stature as part of the Company of Bigallo. Cosimo took control of the officers who were in charge and reduced their authority to that of a low ranking. But the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo took over and changed the original purpose of the Company of Bigallo to that of a civil office for his Commissar.

Walk through this historical building and discover a really small museum as compared to its gigantic neighbors and find that this charitable house was donated in 1350 with a Loggia and an Oratory. Trace the history of the holy saints through expressive paintings and sculptures. The sojourn through the life of these fantastic men can be found in the Loggia and in the Oratory after a short climb to the first floor. When you reach the Loggia, you will be greeted by an awe-inspiring Crucifix by the Maestro del Bigallo. Discover a triptych by Bernardo Daddi and his students and some lovely paintings by Ghirlandaio. Surprise yourself with a beautiful fresco, for which this museum is noted for and see the Sala dei Capitani where the famous artist, Daddi, painted. Look at his famed paintings of Florence with the Baptistery and the lovely Cathedral. Marvel at the incredible work of Niccolo di Pietro Gerini and watch a holy place come to life with the strokes of artistic brushes. These memorable works of art were either bought or were given to the friars who ran this institution which impresses on us the fact that they were the ones who were in charge of the hospitable house of Bigallo.

A Magical Journey

Break away from the ordinary and take a silent trip down immortal lanes of religion and devotion. The museum is located between Via Calzaiuoli and Piazza San Giovanni at the corner. Enter the ground floor and discover a sight that illustrates the life of the holy men through the period of the 13th century. Go through the famous masters of art and sculpture and the exquisite Madonna and Child with fourteen Saints by Alberto Arnoldi in 1361. Go into the medieval times and see the noble coat of arms of the Altoviti family engraved by Desiderio da Settignano. Move into the interior of the museum and find a medieval style painting of Madonna by Jacopo del Sellaio and unique paintings by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio. Go behind the altar carved beautifully by Noferi d’Antonio in 1515 which takes up most of the wall. Discover an unusual workshop where Nardi di Cione sculpted the sinopites and frescoes.

Come and give yourself the rare experience of standing face to face with the fabulous fresco, the theme of which revolves around the Madonna of Misericordia. As an interesting fact, Bernardo Daddi, the author of this sensational work done in 1342, was the pupil of the famous and talented artist and sculptor, Giotto. Unravel the mysteries of medieval Florence by just looking at this fresco which is painted on the wall of the Room of the Captains. Absorb the essence of Florence from this picturesque painting that takes you on a magical ride to the medieval world and the charm of Florence…Let your imagination fly over the secret rooms of medieval towers, monuments and the fabled Baptistery. Let your eye roam over the Cathedral when the Santa Maria del Fiore was being built. Gaze into the depths of medieval architecture and let the eye settle on the saddle roof and the two bell towers of the old Cathedral of Santa Reparata with its lateral single windows that angles the light. Let the ambience of the medieval dawn over you, so you can sight the work of Giotto and his Bell Tower and Arnolfo’s façade of the Santa Maria del Fiore that was only partly constructed because of Arnolfo’s untimely demise in 1302.

Pretty and compact, the museum was structured by Alberto Arnoldi, the noted architect and sculptor, who was involved with the construction of the Duomo and he also sculpted bas-reliefs on the Bell Tower. The Loggia of the Bigallo was home to orphans and the institution was a famous place of charity known by each and every one in Florence. As another interesting fact, the existing loggia and oratory were structured with the help of a donation by a philanthropic soul. Come and visit the Bigallo Museum with its two broad arches which are adorned with bas-reliefs with a cosmic ambience displaying Prophets, Angels, the Virtues and Christ in Benediction. This beautiful work was blocked with bricks in 1697, in an attempt to expand the oratory and then was renovated back to its original status only in 1889. Conceptualized by the Company of the Misericordia with the main aim of charity, the company still maintains this concept and carries out its functions dutifully with compassion and prayer as taught by St. Peter. Go back to the medieval past and listen to the grave voices of the Company of Misercordia commissioning the famous architect-sculptor, Alberto Arnoldi and the master builder, Francesco Talenti in 1357 to construct an oratory in a busy street corner between the cathedral and the existing Via Calzaiuoli. Beautiful, brilliant and big, the museum was enhanced with the medieval tre-foiled and two-light window with an exquisite cross vaulted loggia and wide arches. The completed structure was a beautiful building which could easily play a dual role of both a religious structure and a civic building.

An Eternal Jewel

Go up to the first floor and view its lovely windows, its marvelous paintings by Filippo di Cristofano with the façade enhanced by statues of St. Lucy by Nino Pisano, the Madonna and Child and St. Peter the Martyr who was the founder of the Archconfraternity of the Misericordia. Introduce the mind to Alberti Arnoldi’s unique sculptures and the specially crafted niches and the sculpted loggia. Look at the ancient Tuscan talents exhibited in a series of eternal paintings. Watch the evolving designs creatively carved over a period of time in the interior of the museum with sculptures by Ambrogio di Rienza and Nardo di Cione’s exquisite work on the ceilings. With the merging of the two Companies, the lovely life-like painted statues of Ambrogio di Baldese were transported here. Some of the lovely works of art were lost with the devastation of the floods and were restored later, along with the documented Confraternity’s most passionate work of caring for the abandoned children.

The Bigallo Museum and Loggia is also known as ‘Florence’s little jewel’, as most of the accolades go to Giovanni Poggi who is responsible for the restoring of this lovely and unique stone building with its medieval streak showcasing a monument of strength and rarity. The Museum welcomes you into its refreshing ambience of warmth, care and charity enhanced with precious art and craft. Don’t miss the Museum’s antique map of medieval Florence and a fabulous range of the Della Robbia clan including the Nativity in chiaroscuro. No babies cry here, for the Bigallo Company has extended their loving arms to beckon the lost, the lonely and the unwanted.

Just bring your love of mankind with you when you visit the Bigallo Museum which is open from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m. The Museum is closed on Tuesdays, so take a break and walk around its historic structure. Take a look into the shadowy past for just Euro 2, and fashion the concept of care…

For information, bookings and guided visits contact: CEDeR, Via Campofiore 102, 50136 Florence - Tel. and Fax. +39 055 666259.