Stibbert Museum

The museum was created by Frederick Stibbert (1838-1906). His father was English, his mother Italian. Frederick was born in Florence but was sent to school in England as a young boy.

His father, Thomas, was a colonel of the Coldstream Guards, and his grandfather Giles had been Governor of Bengal, in India. Giles accumulated an incredible fortune which passed on to Frederick when he was 21 years old.

Frederick began collecting immediately upon his coming of age and ended up transforming his house into a real museum “which has cost me a great deal of money and much care and effort”, as he wrote in his will. When Frederick died he left the museum to the municipality of Florence, to improve the knowledge of history for the benefit of future generations.

Today, the museum is a Foundation according to Stibbert's last will. Frederick began his collection of arms and armor as soon as he came of age and returned from his study period in England. His interest also covered costumes, paintings, tapestries, furniture, and other applied arts. The museum includes archaeological items, musical instruments, liturgical objects, etc.

Today the collection amounts to about 50,000 items. The greatest part of them are on display and only a few are later additions and donations.

Frederick Stibbert made numerous changes to his house during his lifetime, adding new rooms and thus increasing space – and he engaged Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi to transform the gardens from a simple Italian garden to a delightful romantic English garden, complete with caves and fountains, temples, and a greenhouse.

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IMPORTANT NOTE: The time you select on the order form is your preferred time. The closest available time, which can be anytime during opening hours on the selected date, will be automatically confirmed if your preferred time is no longer available.

From Monday to Wednesday: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (last entrance at 1:00 pm)
From Friday to Sunday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (last entrance at 5:00 pm)

Closed: Thursdays, January 1st, Easter, May 1st, August 15th, December 25th.

It is additionally possible to book, upon request by email, a tour guided by museum staff for maximum 25 people. Guided tour allows the visit of all the accessible sections and lasts maximum 2 hours. Guided tours are available in English or Italian with 15 days advance notice, and in French with 30 days advance notice.

Reservations must be submitted at least 1 business day before the visit for single visitors. Guided tours are confirmed according to availability.

Once a confirmation code has been assigned to your reservation, we can refund the cost minus a service fee (reservation fee and online booking fee) for cancellations up to 3 business days before the event. Cancellations less than 3 days before your booked event and no-shows are not refundable.

Bus n. 4 from train station Firenze SMN, bus stop Gioia