A typical example is the affair of the first façade which remained in place until 1587 when the Grand Duke, advised by Bernardo Buontalenti as part of new town-planning program, had it demolished to replace it with a more modern project that was to reach its definitive version only in 1871.

This made it impossible to replace the original sculptures which are therefore still in the Museum. In the present ground floor layout, we thus find the originals of the statues by Arnolfo di Cambio for the first partial façade of the Cathedral, Ghiberti’s now restored original panels for the door of the Baptistery, the room with paintings with gold ground and the Relics Chapel, including the famous Reliquary of St. Paul’s Book.
Climbing up the monumental staircase, we encounter the Museum’s jewel: the second of the three Pietas by Michelangelo.