Palazzo del Bargello in Florence restored after 150 years

The Palazzo del Bargello in Florence has recently completed its first extensive restoration since it became Italy's inaugural national museum for medieval and Renaissance art in 1865. This 15-month endeavor involved the cleaning and consolidation of more than 12,000 square meters, addressing surfaces, coats of arms, windows, battlements, and stone corbels, with a total expenditure of €1.8 million. The project, funded by the Ministry of Culture, was led by architect Giancarlo Lombardi and overseen by Maria Cristina Valenti, supported by a team of 24 restorers. Paola D'Agostino, the director of the Bargello Museums, commended the effort, which included over four years of preparatory work. Florence's mayor, Dario Nardella, celebrated the successful restoration, and a video documenting the project will be released on December 1.