The Bargello
The Bargello. Built in 1255 as the town hall. It became the police headquarters and a prison. Adaptive reuse in 1865 as an art museum in which role it continues today. Via del Proconsolo, 4.
Historic Centre of Florence UNESCO World Heritage site.
"...the Gothic Palazzo del Podestà, commonly known as Il Bargello, begun in 1255 for the Capitano del Popolo, and from 1261 (?) the residence of the Podestà, or chief magistrate of Florence. The building was repeatedly damaged by riots, fire (1332), and water (1333) during the 14th century. From 1674 it served as a prison and seat of the head of the police (Bargello). The oldest part of the building, towards the Via Proconsolo, is of ashlar, the upper story and the extension towards the E. (1333-45) are of rough, unhewn stone. Between 1857 and 1865 the imposing structure was judiciously restored by Franc. Mazzei and fitted up for the National Museum (Museo Nazionale), illustrative of the mediaeval and modern history of Italian culture and art. It contains several admirable Renaissance bronzes and marbles".--Baedeker 1906. DSC_0232
Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI establis... ... read more 
