The Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore Museum is located just behind the Cathedral of Florence, in the ancient palace that once housed the headquarters and workshop of the Opera or Cathedral Works.
These areas have witnessed several Renaissance masters at work. Brunelleschi and Donatelo are known to have worked here, and it was in this building’s courtyard, a space substantially altered during the 19th century and no longer existing in its original form, that Michelangelo carved his famous David, now situated in Accademia.

The Museum was inaugurated on May 3rd, 1891, its purpose being to house works of art removed from the Cathedral complex over the centuries. The original nucleus of the collection comprises sculptures executed in the late 13th and early 14th century by Arnolfo di Cambio and his workshop for first facade of the Cathedral, dismantled in 1587 on the orders of Grand Duke Francesco; the two galleries carved by Luca della Robbia and Donatello between 1431 and 1439, which until 1688 hung over the doors to the two sacristies of the Cathedral; and the magnificent silver altar with scenes from the life of St John the Baptist, executed for the Baptistery between 1366 and 1480 by such sculptors and goldsmiths as Antonio del Pollaiolo and Michelozzo.

The Museum’s collection was further enriched with other art works removed from their original location for conservation reasons: foremost amongst these is the entire sculptural decoration of Giotto’s Bell Tower, the hexagonal shaped panels of the first and second level, by Andrea Pisano, Luca della Robbia and others and the 16 statues carved for the third level by Donatello, Andrea Pisano, Nanni di Bartolo and Maso di Bianco.

Other masterpieces which have been brought into the Museum are the wooden statue of Mary Magdalene by Donatello; Michelangelo’s Pieta, an unfinished marble group that the artist had intended as his own funeral monument; the 10 panels now restored from the east doors of Baptistery that Lorenzo Ghiberti created between 1425 and 1452; the marble reliefs of the choir enclosure of the Cathedral, by Baccio Bandinelli.

Beside this invaluable collection of sculpture, the Museum houses wooden models of Brunelleschi’s dome and lantern, many models and plans of different design for the Cathedral facade developed over the centuries, precious reliquaries, paintings and mosaics.

The Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore was founded by the Florentine Republic to supervise the construction of the Duomo. The first stone of Cathedral was laid on September 8th, 1296 and since then its centuries long life has been entwined with the city’s history and artistic efforts. The institution came under the patronage of the Arte della Lana (Wool Guild), in 1331, whose symbol, the Agnus Dei (the Lamb of God), is still to be seen on its coat of arms.
Today, it is the duty and responsibility of the Opera to manage and preserve the entire monumental complex of Santa Maria del Fiore, which, beside the Cathedral, includes Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Crypt of Santa Reparata, the Baptistery of San Giovanni and the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore Museum. The collections of the latter are constantly enriched by meticulous cataloguing and restoration work. The ancient workshop of the Opera stonecutters is now situated in Via dello Studio.

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Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence