Florence, Beyond the Renaissance Between Modern and Contemporary Art

If Florence is known for its Renaissance art and for having some of the most famous museums in the world, it may be less renowned for its contemporary and modern artistic scene.

The contemporary and modern side of the city of Florence can be discovered by stepping outside the more traditional tourist paths.

Here are some suggestions to delve into this unseen side of the city.

Roberto Casamonti Collection

In Piazza Santa Trinità is the Roberto Casamonti Collection.

The Collection is housed in the stunning setting of Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni, a building dating back to 1520 designed by Baccio d’Agnolo. Today, the collection is one of the most important at the national level regarding modern and contemporary art.

Here you can find works by artists such as Boetti, Accardi, Picasso, Ernst, Kandinsky, Fontana, Warhol, Yves Klein, and many others.

The Collection also hosts the only Basquiat permanently exhibited in a collection in Italy. We have discussed this Basquiat (and more) HERE.

Manifattura Tabacchi

Manifattura Tabacchi is a contemporary art center in Florence, created from the spaces of a former tobacco factory where exhibitions and events are organized. Manifattura Tabacchi is a true crossroads of ideas.

Ferragamo Museum

Florence is also synonymous with fashion and made in Italy. This museum perfectly combines the love for fashion and contemporary design, the Ferragamo Museum. The museum tells the story of the fashion house and the iconic models that have marked its history.

Enzo Pazzagli Art Park

Slightly outside of Florence, to the south of the city, is the Enzo Pazzagli Art Park, a large garden of about 24,000 square meters featuring 300 works. In the park, a living sculpture has also been created, composed of about 300 cypress trees that, viewed from above, represent a face with two profiles.

20th Century Museum

The 20th Century Museum is located in Florence, within the ancient Spedale delle Leopoldine in Piazza Santa Maria Novella. It is dedicated to Italian art of the 20th century and features a selection of works from the permanent collection and cycles of temporary exhibitions.

If you are also interested in all the other museums and exhibitions in Florence, read our in-depth article, Exhibitions in Florence 2025: the unmissable ones or discover the city and its cultural offerings by clicking here!