The Museo del Duomo in Florence displays some of the finest works of Renaissance sculpture,
including Ghiberti's original gilded bronze East doors to the Baptistery,
original octagonal relief sculuptures from the bell tower, one of Michelangelo's "Pieta's",
and some major sculpture that was originally on the Duomo and Baptistery.

For the past couple of years, the Museo del Duomo as been closed, while a new museum is being constructed
behind the Duomo. It is intended that the new Museo del Duomo will replicate as nearly as possible,
the way the West front of the Duomo and East side of the Baptistery directly across from it, looked and interacted,
when these major works of art were created in the 15th c.

Some of the panels from Ghiberti's doors were washed away by flood waters during the 1966 flood.
These panels, as well as those remaining in place folowing the flood, have been under major restoration since the mid 1980s.
Several years ago, they were reassembled and put on display in the old Museo del Duomo.
(see my Florence galleries from previous years)
The East doors installed on the Baptistery in the1980's are copies.

The new Museo del Duomo is anticipated to open in the late fall 2015.