I had been dying to see the second commissioned statue of David by Donnatello. and it was breathtaking. The statue is in bronze and quite different from the later David in marble. The rest of the museum was beautiful.

i think the Bargello Museum is often overlooked but really it is a charming way to see some very important crafts and artwork of the Renaissance--and earlier. It doesn't have the lines--but get your ticket ahead! The Bargello was a jail, but today as you enter the open courtyard immediately you catch the ambiance. The September day we visited it was awash in sunlight, with dramatic shadows over the open corridor up the flight of stairs that joins the two sections of the building. It was exciting to see the masterpieces of Rafael's sculpture, and to also see the lovely fabric and needlework from that era. Inside the rooms are bright so you can see the details of the artwork, and the public restrooms are easily accessible and clean. This is a wonderful experience to see on your own some of the masterpieces of not only painting and sculpture, but also architectural elements of some of the famous buildings in Florence. From there it was a short walk to Il Doumo, and the square---Don't miss it!

Enjoyed an hour here exploring the delights on offer without the queues in an amazing historical building dating from 1255. Sculptures tend to predominate however there are also collections of ivories, Renaissance jewels and Islamic art. Not bad value for 4€. Unfortunately the second floor was closed the day I visited.

If you have time to see only two museums in Florence - go to the Academia and Bargello. Uffizi is tired, crowded, and not even comparable I really don't know what the fuss is about. You don't have to be a sculpture nut to go to Bargello. The building itself is a gem. It is the oldest public building in Florence and used to be a palace, a police station and a prison. The courtyard is adorned with sculptures, coat of arms and other beautiful objects. Every piece is a masterpiece, carefully chosen and well-kept. Frankly I was disappointed with the so-called "Gallery of Statutes" in the Uffizi. Go to Bargello, sit on the bench in front of the "Fisherboy" or the "Juno and Two Peacocks", and you'll appreciate the art of sculpture like you've never had before.