Museo degli Innocenti – art museum and architectural gem

The Ospedale degli Innocenti (Children’s Hospital) is an architectural masterpiece that combines functionality and beauty, elegance and symmetry: a ‘palace for children’, as the architect Giovanni Michelucci called it. It was originally built as a children’s hospital (the first of its kind in Europe). It was built from 1419 according to a design by Filippo Brunelleschi, making it one of the first Renaissance buildings ever. The museum in the premises was set up to exhibit the works of art from the old Ospedale degli Innocenti. A tour has been set up to give visitors access to a cultural heritage that is unique in the world and is closely linked to the work in favour of children who could not be raised by their families of origin. 

The museum, which opened in 2016 after a major redesign, provides information about the history of the Ospedale and also displays, among other things, the main panel ‘Adoration of the Magi’ from the former high altar of the church of the orphanage. It was created by Domenico Ghirlandaio and his workshop between 1485 and 1488. In addition, works by Luca della Robbia, Andrea della Robbia, Sandro Botticelli and Piero di Cosimo can be seen here. One of the most important works is the Madonna and Child, attributed to Sandro Botticelli.