Bargello. The Bargello, also known as the Palazzo del Bargello, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, or Palazzo del Popolo, is a former barracks and prison, now an art museum, in Florence, Italy.
The word bargello appears to come from the late Latin bargillus, meaning castle or fortified tower. During the Italian Middle Ages it was the name given to a military captain in charge of keeping peace and justice during riots and uproars.
In Florence he was usually hired from a foreign city to prevent any appearance of favoritism on the part of the Captain. The position could be compared with that of a current Chief of police.
The name Bargello was extended to the building which was the office of the captain. Construction began in 1255.
The palace was built to house first the Capitano del Popolo and later, in 1261, the podestà, the highest magistrate of the Florence City Council. This Palazzo del Podestà, as it was originally called, is the oldest public building in Florence. This austere crenellated building served as model for the construction of the Palazzo Vecchio. In 1574, the Medici dispensed with the function of the Podestà and housed the bargello, the police chief of Florence, in this building, hence its name. It was employed as a prison; executions took place in the Bargello's yard until they were abolished by Grand Duke Peter Leopold in 1786, but it remained the headquarters of the Florentin
The word bargello appears to come from the late Latin bargillus, meaning castle or fortified tower. During the Italian Middle Ages it was the name given to a military captain in charge of keeping peace and justice during riots and uproars.
In Florence he was usually hired from a foreign city to prevent any appearance of favoritism on the part of the Captain. The position could be compared with that of a current Chief of police.
The name Bargello was extended to the building which was the office of the captain. Construction began in 1255.
The palace was built to house first the Capitano del Popolo and later, in 1261, the podestà, the highest magistrate of the Florence City Council. This Palazzo del Podestà, as it was originally called, is the oldest public building in Florence. This austere crenellated building served as model for the construction of the Palazzo Vecchio. In 1574, the Medici dispensed with the function of the Podestà and housed the bargello, the police chief of Florence, in this building, hence its name. It was employed as a prison; executions took place in the Bargello's yard until they were abolished by Grand Duke Peter Leopold in 1786, but it remained the headquarters of the Florentin
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