Stibbert Museum

Discover the stunning private collection and home of the Italo-British gentleman Frederick Stibbert (1838-1906).

Museo Stibbert
via Federigo Stibbert 26 - 50134 Firenze
Ph +39 055475520

The Stibbert museum's collection consists of about fifty thousand objects, which are mostly mostly exhibited, the result of the original nucleus left by Frederick Stibbert at his death but increased by various gifts and later purchases. It was articulated over the years: weapons and armor, costumes, paintings, tapestries, furniture and objects of applied art, collected in the desire to document all the areas in which changes in taste and development of production techniques stimulated the creation of art objects.

OPENING HOURS

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.

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.

Before You Book

PLEASE NOTE: Immediately after submitting an order, you will receive two email. The first email contains your order summary (this one you receive immediately after placing your order), the second email confirms your successful payment (one business day after placing the order). In order to receive these two emails, please make sure that you enter your email address correctly and check that antispam or antivirus filters do not block emails from our [email protected] address. Users of AOL, Comcast and Sbcglobal.net need to pay special attention to this, please. Vouchers will also be available, one business day after the request, at your dashboard.

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.

OPENING HOURS

Guided Visits

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.

Cancellation Policy

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.