In Florence in the 19th century, antique dealing started becoming a professional business. This happened when people began to "eviscerate" the historic center of Florence to create a more modern town, in line with major European cities. Works of art and architecture, from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, were buried deep but returned to the light. This resurrection formed the beginning of the trading of the most fascinating works of art in the world (and their fake copies as well!).
Stefano Bardini, a controversial figure, sold works of art from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance era to the most important people including the couple Jacquemart-André in Paris, Wilhelm Bode in Berlin, and the Romanoff and Demidoff. In his beautiful house, painted in "blue Bardini", the color he invented, you can still see hundreds of works of art, among them the Madonna della Mela and the Madonna dei Cordai by Donatello, the Archangel Michael by Antonio del Pollaiuolo, and Charity by Tino di Camaino. In another area of the museum are the Piglet by Pietro Tacca and Giambologna's Diavolino, together with one original of the two lions of the 14th century, belonging to the main entrance of Palazzo Vecchio.
Rodolfo Siviero lived during the Second World War and is known as the 007 of art because he has recovered and protected most of the Italian artistic heritage from being destroyed in the war, and even from some of the allies. In the beautiful house on the Lungarno, we can still visit the library where Siviero hid the codes that give the precise location of statues, paintings, tapestries, and other works of art, stolen from the Uffizi Gallery and other Florentine art galleries .
Info about the tour:
Visit to the museum house.
Then we will go to the Stefano Bardini Museum, home of the famous antique dealer of the 1800.
Available days: Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Bookable Starting Time: From 10:00 am to 12:00 am (NOON)
Duration: 3 hours
Available Languages:
English, Italiano, Francais, Deutsch, Español
Adult rate: The rate depends on the number of people. CALCULATE YOUR OWN RATE!
Child rate: From 6 years to 17 years with ID card Please insert number of people.
Meeting Point: Lungarno Serristori n. 5, in front of Casa Rodolfo Siviero