Stibbert Museum on Postcard

"Quirky Off-the-Beaten-Path Museum Frederick Stibbert was a wealthy Anglo-Italian art collector who used his inherited fortune to turn his home into a museum in the 19th century. Today, the Stibbert has one of the quirkiest collections you'll find in a city most famous for its classic art. Visiting is an intimate experience: You're required to go through the mansion with a guide, and what's more, you're likely to have only two or three other people with you on your tour. I came here at the urging of one of my Florentine professors, who called the isolated museum her favorite in all of Florence. If you can afford to skip the coveted portraiture of the Vasari Corridor of the Uffizi, the Stibbert Museum has a vast portrait collection, all hung in the mansion's grand foyer. The collection is unique in that each portrait was chosen for the specific costumery depicted on its subject. Garb was Stibbert's thing: The rest of the museum is notable for its exotic armory (Islamic and Japanese), and for having the outfit that Napoleon wore to his 1805 coronation in Milan as King of Italy. A trip to the Stibbert is a historical home tour as well, complete with a 19th century ballroom, a smoking room with exquisite tile, and an Egyptian-templed garden and pond. It's an eccentric, off-the-beaten-track museum, but a cool excursion and worth the effort. You can walk there from the heart of Florence, though it's quite a trek and it might be better to take one of the buses that bring you nearer to this part of town."

Art and Architecture in Tuscany

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@afar

"Quirky Off-the-Beaten-Path Museum Frederick Stibbert was a wealthy Anglo-Italian art collector who used his inherited fortune to turn his home into a museum in the 19th century. Today, the Stibbert has one of the quirkiest collections you'll find in a city most famous for its classic art. Visiting is an intimate experience: You're required to go through the mansion with a guide, and what's more, you're likely to have only two or three other people with you on your tour. I came here at the urging of one of my Florentine professors, who called the isolated museum her favorite in all of Florence. If you can afford to skip the coveted portraiture of the Vasari Corridor of the Uffizi, the Stibbert Museum has a vast portrait collection, all hung in the mansion's grand foyer. The collection is unique in that each portrait was chosen for the specific costumery depicted on its subject. Garb was Stibbert's thing: The rest of the museum is notable for its exotic armory (Islamic and Japanese), and for having the outfit that Napoleon wore to his 1805 coronation in Milan as King of Italy. A trip to the Stibbert is a historical home tour as well, complete with a 19th century ballroom, a smoking room with exquisite tile, and an Egyptian-templed garden and pond. It's an eccentric, off-the-beaten-track museum, but a cool excursion and worth the effort. You can walk there from the heart of Florence, though it's quite a trek and it might be better to take one of the buses that bring you nearer to this part of town."

Florence off the beaten track

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BLUE FOX

Google

One of the most stunning museums. I had goosebumps walking through the corridors... Here, many cultures are gathered together: Japanese, Mongolian, French, English, Italian, Egyptian, and so on... I won't talk much about this place, but my biggest recommendation is to have a guide there who will tell you the history behind all these beautiful and well-kept artifacts. Second, do not rush and simply enjoy the view. The garden is also very beautiful and calming, where you can have a little picnic.

Dawance Florian

Google

A museum that deserves to be known. Full of surprises! A vast collection of armor, paintings, weapons of all kinds (European, oriental, and one of the largest collections of Asian objects in the country), all in a grandiose setting. The staff is smiling and will happily explain the secrets that abound in the manor. It is very rare to be able to approach objects of such quality and diversity so closely! At the end of the visit there is a small bar and a park to relax 😃 a rare gem! Off-center compared to other museums but worth going there.

Александр А

Google

Really wonderful and super big collection of armours and weapons mostly of 16th century but not only. Staff there is very friendly and ready to help. They speak English and what was great because I don’t speak Italian. Will be happy to come again to this museum later

Chinney Enyinna

Google

Interesting collection of mostly articles of war. Swords, armor, guns. For some reason they have three Egyptian mummies and a hall of Japanese art and swords. The bedroom and toilet were cool to see

Bandurka Elena

Google

interesting large palace, with a large collection of exhibits. also on the 2nd floor there are interiors of rooms, bedrooms, library, office. groups are taken around the museum at any time. bought a ticket without a queue on the spot.

Julie Jaekel

Google

Extraordinary museum collection beautifully exhibited. Imposing collection of armour and armaments, historical pieces and paintings from the 15th to the 16th century. Easily accessed QR codes provide a link for the viewer to information about the particular display. Artisans of the time periods displayed were amazing!

Alberto Durzu

Google

Beautiful museum! There are many weapons and beautiful medieval armor, from the Islamic period and Japanese. Highly recommended and beautiful Palace. The visit lasted about 1 hour and a half

Dave Bown

Google

My favourite museum in Florence so far. Well worth leaving the downtown area to see this one. Not only is there a huge collection of interesting arms and armour, there are lots of other curiosities across dozens of interesting rooms. The rooms themselves are ornately decorated on the grandest scale and each one is unique. After the museum is over enjoy a nice walk in the adjoining park. Don't skip this museum!

BLUE FOX

Google

One of the most stunning museums. I had goosebumps walking through the corridors... Here, many cultures are gathered together: Japanese, Mongolian, French, English, Italian, Egyptian, and so on... I won't talk much about this place, but my biggest recommendation is to have a guide there who will tell you the history behind all these beautiful and well-kept artifacts. Second, do not rush and simply enjoy the view. The garden is also very beautiful and calming, where you can have a little picnic.

Dawance Florian

Google

A museum that deserves to be known. Full of surprises! A vast collection of armor, paintings, weapons of all kinds (European, oriental, and one of the largest collections of Asian objects in the country), all in a grandiose setting. The staff is smiling and will happily explain the secrets that abound in the manor. It is very rare to be able to approach objects of such quality and diversity so closely! At the end of the visit there is a small bar and a park to relax 😃 a rare gem! Off-center compared to other museums but worth going there.

Александр А

Google

Really wonderful and super big collection of armours and weapons mostly of 16th century but not only. Staff there is very friendly and ready to help. They speak English and what was great because I don’t speak Italian. Will be happy to come again to this museum later

Chinney Enyinna

Google

Interesting collection of mostly articles of war. Swords, armor, guns. For some reason they have three Egyptian mummies and a hall of Japanese art and swords. The bedroom and toilet were cool to see

Bandurka Elena

Google

interesting large palace, with a large collection of exhibits. also on the 2nd floor there are interiors of rooms, bedrooms, library, office. groups are taken around the museum at any time. bought a ticket without a queue on the spot.

Julie Jaekel

Google

Extraordinary museum collection beautifully exhibited. Imposing collection of armour and armaments, historical pieces and paintings from the 15th to the 16th century. Easily accessed QR codes provide a link for the viewer to information about the particular display. Artisans of the time periods displayed were amazing!

Alberto Durzu

Google

Beautiful museum! There are many weapons and beautiful medieval armor, from the Islamic period and Japanese. Highly recommended and beautiful Palace. The visit lasted about 1 hour and a half

Dave Bown

Google

My favourite museum in Florence so far. Well worth leaving the downtown area to see this one. Not only is there a huge collection of interesting arms and armour, there are lots of other curiosities across dozens of interesting rooms. The rooms themselves are ornately decorated on the grandest scale and each one is unique. After the museum is over enjoy a nice walk in the adjoining park. Don't skip this museum!

J C L.

Yelp

Fascinating. An incredible collection of armor and weaponry. Mr. Stibbert was clearly a very wealthy Englishman who collected a vast array of interesting objects from all over the world. The mansion is as amazing as the collection. Check out Napoleon's cloak from his coronation. Take a moment and walk through the associated garden. Next door is the Baden Powell garden for those of us who are into Scouting. The house is something to behold. Because he lived with his mother, he decided to cover the frescos as they featured nudes. Can't have that. Ah, the English. So the walls in most of the main rooms are covered in dyed, tooled leather tiles. His wealth came from his grandfather and father, who were extensively involved in trade with India. I presume they were associated with the East India Trading Co. You cannot even begin to appreciate the wealth they accumulated. But be forewarned, before you go make sure you know how you are getting back. It is a long walk from the museum back to the center of Florence. Taxis will not come get you unless you made arrangements in advance.

Diana A.

Yelp

One of those places that always comes off as uninspiring to friends and visitors, but once I've got them there they love this jewel of a museum. The entire tour gets wrapped up in about an hour and includes one of the largest and most versatile collections of military memorabilia I have ever seen. Stibbert was a bit of a recluse and spent all his time and money collecting pieces from all over the world, and setting them up in his palace complex on the hills of Florence. It's a bit out of the way, so be sure to triple check your directions if you are from out of town or taking transit. You will not be disappointed, unless the idea of realistic recreations of historical events doesn't interest you. Great for kids and those easily bored. Guided tours are obligatory but are not heavily informative. Reservations are a must.

Georgette J.

Yelp

Frederick Stibbert - the one responsibile for this incredible collection of over 36,000 artifacts must have been one kind of character to be able to create this wonderful place with every last detail in Florence. We finally used a rainy day as a great excuse to visit and wow, if I knew it was this nice, I would have gone a lot soon. Very accessible by bus or car, you will notice a huge (and beautiful) park in front of the vast villa itself. The ticket costs 6 euros and it is a guided tour to make sure you don't take any pictures or pocket the armory. The tour itself last around one hour and what hour that is. You will be wandering from one amazing room to another filled with 14th-18th century armory, tapestry and even a ferragamo collection throughout the years. Our guide was knowledgable and friendly and let us roam around to gawk and stare in the huge rooms. My personal favorite room was the middle eastern collection, not just for the armory itself but also because of the room's beautiful detail. It felt like being in the middle east and it was really interesting to see all of the different styles these soldiers once used. This is the perfect place to take someone who perhaps has seen enough renaissance art and needs a refreshing break. I want to go back again when the weather is a little warmer to take advantage of the adjacent huge park - a tranquil oasis from the busy city streets. If you go in the winter, bundle up! The villa itself is absolutely freezing!

Alexandra K.

Yelp

Truly a "hidden gem" type museum because of the way it betrays the eccentricity of its 19th century founder, collector Frederick Stibbert. He sent home so much stuff to his mother's place in this Florentine residential area that she finally said BASTA - and so he bought the villa next door and renovated it to create large museum- like spaces for his armour collection. He also favoured 15th-18th century painting that shows impressive costumes.

Lyd M.

Yelp

A truly singular experience. This museum showcases the art and artifact collections of Frederick Stibbert, who inherited the villa and tons of money from his grandfather. After inheriting it, Stibbert never had to work again and instead spent the rest of his life finding awesome things to fill his new mansion with...that is, until he ran out of room. But oh wait, he just added a bunch of new rooms and continued collecting and filling them up! After he died in 1906, the property and its collection were given to the city of Florence. Small, personal tours are given into the afternoon. It goes something like this: you take a bus to this less-touristy section of the city and walk up the winding road until you get to the estate's gate. You enter and walk down the driveway. Since you didn't want to risk missing your scheduled tour, you are probably early so you grab a cold drink from the cooler, have a drink at the bar, or order an espresso in the small museum cafe. You then take a bit of time to wander along the picturesque, park-like grounds (gazebos, ponds, fountains, birds, turtles, cats!) until your tour guide is ready for you. The tour itself is incredible: room after room of meticulously collected art and artifacts. The number of weapons here is completely staggering...armour, swords, bows, arrows, daggers...you name it. This collection spans continents and centuries and is--if I'm not mistaken--one of the largest in the world. And as if this weren't enough to look at, each room is simultaneously filled with tapestries, paintings, and furniture. Stibbert DID live here, after all! The tour guide brings you through each room, pointing out objects of particular interest and blowing your mind with the amount of knowledge they have. There is SO much to look at, I'd definitely go back again because if you took the time t look at each object, you'd be there all day. Small, intimate tours, incredible history, and a unique setting make this a museum not to be missed!

Stibbert Museum

Stibbert Museum

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