
MM Editor•Apr 19, 2026
Museo del Novecento Florence — A 20th-Century Surprise in a Renaissance City
At a Glance
Museo del Novecento on Piazza Santa Maria Novella opened June 2014, Florence's dedicated museum of 20th-century Italian art. The building is the former Leopoldine charity hospital, extended by Michelozzo in the 15th century.
Renaissance Shell, 20th-Century Core
Florence amassed 20th-century works from 1941 onward. Natalini Architetti preserved the Renaissance exterior while cleaning the interior to white galleries.
Must-See
- Ottone Rosai Florentine Expressionism.
- De Chirico's Piazza d'Italia series.
- Marino Marini horse sculptures.
- Lucio Fontana's cut canvases.
- Alberto Burri's post-war abstracts.
Visiting Tips
Right outside Santa Maria Novella station. €9.50. 1.5–2 hours. Closed Tuesdays. Pair with Museo Marino Marini.