The San Marco Museum is housed in a former Dominican convent that was restored by Michelozzo under Cosimo il Vecchio de' Medici, and is a well-preserved example of Florentine Renaissance architecture. The cloister, Pilgrims’ Hospice, Lavabo Room, Fra Bartolomeo Room, Chapterhouse, and dormitory cells are decorated with sacred frescoes by some of the most important artists in Florence at the time, including Fra Beato Angelico who was first a monk and later Prior of the monastery—highlights include hisAnnunciation,Crucifixion with Saints, andNoli me tangere;The Last Supper by Ghirlandaio; and theSignoria Altarpiece by Fra Bartolomeo. The complex also has a library containing a collection of historic illuminated manuscripts, as well as a modern convent library with books on philosophy and theology.
This is one of the most important collections of sacred art in Florence, so book a private museum tour with skip-the-line tickets ahead to avoid a long wait. Many Renaissance Florence walking tours also include a stop at the San Marco Museum.