Like
many other Florentine museums, the Archaeological
Museum stems from the collections of the Medici
and Lorraine families that were initally exhibited
along with other treasures in the Uffizi Gallery
and moved to the Palazzo della Crocetta, the present
day seat of the Museum, in 1888 (the building
was erected in 1620 by Giulio Parigi). The main
core of the collection focuses on Etruscan civilisation
that interested in particular Cosimo the Eldest
of the Medici family. But it was the Grand Duke
Cosimo I who to put together the currently existing
collections in 16th century, though these were
later increased by his successors (and in particular
by Cardinal Leopoldo). Over time the collection
was enriched with famous works like the Chimera
of Arezzo, the Minerva of Arezzo and the Orator.
The collection was then continued by the Lorraine
family that added the extraordinary collection
of Egyptian pieces, besides adding new pieces
to the Etruscan section, which was organised by
series and studied by the scholars of the Lorraine
court. Additions continued also during the 19th
century with important works like the Sarcophagus
of the Amazons and the Larthia Seianti. It was
at this time that a new section of Etruscan topography
was created and that the Etruscan sculptures and
small and large bronzes were added. In addition
to the above-mentioned works, it is worth setting
some time aside to visit the section dedicated
to the lavish assortment of Etruscan jewels.
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