Directed by Andreina Contessa, the museum network comprises the Accademia Gallery, the Bargello National Museum, the Medici Chapels Museum, the Palazzo Davanzati Museum, the Orsanmichele Complex, the Casa Martelli Museum, and, once restoration work is complete, the former church of San Procolo, which will be dedicated to temporary exhibitions.
The seven sites are conceived as an interconnected map, fostering dialogue among masterpieces from different artistic languages, historical periods, and forms of expression, and presenting Florence’s cultural heritage within a single, integrated museum system. As part of this new approach, a series of interventions and innovations has been announced, including thematic routes, unified tickets, and coordinated opening hours, alongside initiatives designed to encourage locals and families to visit more often and to promote a more mindful, less intensive form of tourism.
From March 15, 2026, two cumulative ticket options will be available. A single ticket costing 38 euro will grant access to all museums in the network for 72 hours, encouraging visitors to engage with the collections at a slower, more reflective pace. Alternatively, a 26 euro ticket will allow entry to the Accademia Gallery and the Bargello National Museum within 48 hours. A discounted family ticket is also under consideration. From the same date, all museums will be open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.15am to 6.50pm, with the exception of Casa Martelli, whose hours will vary according to ongoing restoration work.
Director General Andreina Contessa details,
“I believe that this union between two great institutions represents a challenge and an opportunity for both. Visitors will be able to enjoy a unique museum, architectural, and artistic itinerary spread across different buildings in the city, journeying through Florence’s diverse historical eras and guises. This union, through tools such as integrated ticketing and standardized opening hours, will lead to a rebalancing of visitor flows and economic resources. The cultural strategy consists of enhancing the unique features of the individual museums by connecting them…We want to return these greatly popular places to Florentines, developing initiatives and special openings for locals and emphasizing the role of museums in serving the community. At the same time, we must consider implementing a comprehensive awareness campaign to raise visitors’ awareness of sustainable practices in the context of cultural heritage and conservation issues. I know from experience that mergers can represent great opportunities, but they are never simple. The union of the Accademia Gallery and the Bargello Museums will entail a complex change in management and administration. This is why I began my Florentine assignment by meeting with the staff: listening is essential to understanding their needs and perspectives. Also because it is from the voices of those who experience the museum every day that the profound sense of a cultural community capable of innovating, growing, and speaking to the world is born.”
