In 2011, iconic Italian luxury brand, Gucci opened a museum in the historic heart of the city. Located in the Piazza della Signoria, only metres from the Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio, the Gucci Museo, or Museum, occupies three floors of the Palazzo della Mercanzia. The museum showcases products from the brand from bags to cars and also houses a café, bookshop and giftshop. For any fashion lovers visiting the city, fans of the label or people looking to do something a little different or experience a different kind of museum, it's a must-see.
Find a luxury villa in Florence and complete the whole luxury experience by dropping by!
Find a luxury villa in Florence and complete the whole luxury experience by dropping by!
The museum spans the 90 year history of the brand from its foundation in the early twentieth century by Guccio Gucci as well as considering its forbears from centuries beforehand. The Palazzo della Mercanzia itself was built in 1308 on the site of an ancient Roman theatre and established to support the trade guilds of the day. As a service to the city’s cloth importers, wool manufacturers and silk weavers, the Palazzo aided Florence in her emergence as one of the leading commercial and cultural centres of Renaissance Europe. The building has been occupied by many different groups over the centuries from high ranking government officials to members of the infamous Medici family. Now, it returns to being a place that celebrates Florentine design and innovations.
The ground floor, houses the permanent exhibitions. "Travel" is the room filled with trunks, suitcases, accessories and articles created for the zipping around the world. It was these types of items that were the backbone of the brand with Gucci opening a leather goods company and small luggage store in 1921. The first floor, meanwhile, houses exhibitions along particular themes and surrounding icons of style. Also in this floor is a contemporary art space which hosts temporary exhibitions in collaboration with the Pinault Foundation. A video room houses video art pieces and film screenings. The second floor houses another permanent installation, “Logomania” which tells the tale of the double G monogram.
The last room is dedicated to the Bamboo handbags. It is also on this floor that the café and stores can be found.
The museum is open seven days a week with closures only on public holidays and entry is just seven Euros with half the fee going to the restoration of artworks in the city. This is a spectacular little museum that is a bit of a secret and well worth a visit if you find yourself in Florence.
The last room is dedicated to the Bamboo handbags. It is also on this floor that the café and stores can be found.
The museum is open seven days a week with closures only on public holidays and entry is just seven Euros with half the fee going to the restoration of artworks in the city. This is a spectacular little museum that is a bit of a secret and well worth a visit if you find yourself in Florence.
Photo credits
picture 1: Maizeam / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Adam Russell / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 3: Sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Maizeam / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Adam Russell / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 3: Sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0
