After an unforgettable day in Siena, we set ourselves a very special destination, the Stibbert Museum. We had heard a lot about this place, but nothing prepared us for the sight that greeted us inside the gates. We saw no ordinary exhibition space, but a private collection, from every corner of which a passionate fascination with the past emanated.
The history of the museum is closely intertwined with the fate of its founder, Frederick Stibbert, one of the most extraordinary figures of the 19th century. Stibbert was born in Florence in 1838, the son of an English father and an Italian mother. He inherited his vast fortune from his paternal grandfather, who had established the family’s prosperity as an officer of the British East India Company and Governor of Bengal. As soon as Frederick came of age and received his vast inheritance, he devoted almost all his time and money to his passion for collecting. Not only did he buy the treasures, but he was also a renowned costume historian and illustrator who spent the rest of his life expanding his villa on the Montughi hill to accommodate the incredible amount of objects. He eventually left the entire collection to the city, on the condition that it be maintained as a museum.
The museum’s objects are arranged in impressive abundance in the rooms and can be divided into several large thematic groups. The most famous section is undoubtedly the European Armory, where we can see thousands of swords, muskets and firearms from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The jewel of the collection is the Hall of the Knights, where life-size figures of horsemen and footmen dressed in full armor parade, faithfully reflecting the splendor of medieval and Renaissance warfare. Stibbert praises the expertise with which he assembled each piece with meticulous precision, paying attention to even the smallest decorations.
In addition to the European pieces, the Oriental collection is also world-renowned, especially the Japanese exhibition, which is one of the most significant in the world outside of Japan. This section consists of around 2,000 pieces, including samurai armor, sharp katanas and ornate accessories, showcasing the highest level of Far Eastern blacksmithing. Also significant is the Islamic and Ottoman weaponry collection, where you can admire hundreds of ornate swords and armor from the Middle East and India. In total, the museum houses over 50,000 objects, including paintings, porcelain and precious textiles.
After visiting the museum, we took a final, farewell walk through the city, enjoying the early evening lights and the atmospheric streets. We didn’t stay long, however, because we knew we needed a break. We returned to our accommodation and quickly packed up, as we were leaving early the next day. Another long journey lay ahead of us, as the next stop on our tour was in France.
