Stibbert Museum Tours and Activities

Near Florence’s historic center, this eclectic museum contains Wunderkammer-like collections of art and artifacts amassed by 19th-century antiques dealer Frederick Stibbert. Peruse dozens of rooms stuffed with paintings, tapestries, furnishings, and armor.

The Basics
The Stibbert Museum (Museo Stibbert) is a must for those who want to get away from the crowds and discover the Renaissance capital’s hidden treasures. Book your skip-the-line ticket in advance, and stroll through the collector’s former home, including nearly 60 sumptuous rooms overflowing with showpieces from the 16th through 19th centuries.

Pair a visit to the museum with a walking tour of Florence to take in the city’s more famous landmarks, such as the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, and Accademia.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Kids enjoy seeing the Sala della Cavalcata’s life-size figures of horses and warriors dressed in armor from Europe and the Middle East.
• The museum includes free entrance to the villa’s English garden, with shade trees, walking paths, and a small pond.
• The museum is partially accessible to wheelchairs—request information at the entrance.
• There’s a small café and a souvenir shop.

How to Get There
The Stibbert Museum is located on Via Federigo Stibbert just outside the historic center of Florence. From the Santa Maria Novella train station, take tram line T1 to Careggi and get off at the Muratori stop.

When to Get There
The Stibbert Museum is refreshingly quiet. Head there during the busiest midday hours for a welcome respite.

The Collections at the Stibbert Museum
The Stibbert collections are a treasure trove of historic paintings, tapestries, and ceramics; clothing and costumes from Europe, India, China, and Japan; and furniture and decorations. Don’t miss the thousands of examples of European, Islamic, and Japanese weapons and armor dating as far back as the 1500s—the Samurai collection alone includes more than 80 sets of armor and hundreds of original swords.