From Michelangelo’s imagined portrait to medieval games, through mysteries to be unraveled in the halls of the Bargello and an immersive virtual reality journey inside a Pontormo painting: this year also, the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze  and Musei del Bargello are participating in Firenze dei Bambini, the festival dedicated to childhood and adolescence scheduled in Florence from May 22nd to 24th, 2026, with a series of activities designed to introduce children to cultural heritage through engaging, inclusive, and participatory experiences.

The workshops and tours offered by the Educational and Accessibility Services of the group’s museums will take children on a journey through art, imagination, observation, and discovery, transforming museums into places to actively experience, where they can learn while having fun and experiment with new ways of looking at works.

The program will open on Saturday, May 23rd at 10:30 a.m. at the Museo Nazionale del Bargello with Non è tutt’oro quel che luccica! (All That Glitters Is Not Gold!) , an investigative tour for children aged 9 to 12. Among works of art and objects from the collection, participants will be guided through an exploration that stimulates observation, deductive reasoning, and the ability to look beyond appearances, uncovering hidden functions, visual illusions, and small puzzles within the museum. (Activity for 10 children, with a chaperone for each child or group of children.)

Also on Saturday, May 23rd, at the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, innovation will take center stage with Venere e Cupido di Jacopo Pontormo: dal dipinto alla realtà virtuale (Jacopo Pontormo’s Venus and Cupid: From Painting to Virtual Reality), an activity for children aged 8 to 12, scheduled for 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 5:00 pm. After a brief introduction to Pontormo’s work, participants will be able to don VR headsets and virtually enter the painting, exploring its details and unique perspectives. This immersive experience, combining art and technology, was created in collaboration with the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze. Professor Juri Ciani, Federico Niccolai, and Giulia Vaccari worked on the virtual reality project. (Activities for 8 children with a chaperone for each child or group of children per shift.)

At 3:00 pm, the Museo di Palazzo Davanzati will host Che spasso! Giochi e divertimento nel Medioevo (What a Fun! Games and Fun in the Middle Ages), an itinerary for children aged 6 to 12, exploring how free time was spent in centuries past. Through paintings, objects, and rooms in the palace, participants will immerse themselves in the medieval atmosphere and try out some ancient games in the courtyard, rediscovering the value of shared fun. (Activity for 10 children with a chaperone for each child or group of children).

The program will conclude at 4:30 pm at the Museo delle Cappelle Medicee with C’era una volta un pezzo di… marmo! Ritratti osservati e ritratti creati (Once Upon a Time There Was a Piece of… Marble! Portraits Observed and Portraits Created), for children aged 6 to 9. Starting with the portraits sculpted by Michelangelo in the New Sacristy, participants will be invited to reflect on the themes of identity and transformation, drawing inspiration from the figure of Pinocchio, to whom the 2026 edition of the festival is dedicated. Through a creative workshop, they will create their own self-portrait, celebrating imagination, uniqueness, and freedom of expression. (Activity for 8 children with a chaperone for each child or group of children).

Tutte le attività sono gratuite con prenotazione obbligatoria presso MUSE Firenze e prevedono un numero limitato di partecipanti per garantire la qualità dell’esperienza educativa.

Per prenotazioni e programma completo del festival: www.firenzebambini.it e musefirenze.it/eventi/firenze-dei-bambini-2026/.