Gucci Garden, Florence, Tuscany, Italy - Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"Set the scene for us. What's this place all about? The Gucci museum opened in 2011 on the 90th anniversary of the fashion house, and charts the evolution from its start—right here in Florence—to the enormous international brand it is today. Also onsite is the new Gucci Garden, the brainchild of Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele, with a store, exhibition rooms, and a restaurant with world's best Massimo Bottura at the helm. The museum complex—effectively, a Gucci wonderland—is in the Palazzo della Mercanzia, which was built in 1359 and restored in 1905. Rather interestingly, the historic structure once housed the Court that served to resolve disputes between merchants and members of Florentine arts guilds. Amazing. So what can we expect to see in this Gucci wonderland? The museum showcases a range of iconic pieces, from scarves to luggage to Hilary Swank's iconic dress from the 2011 Academy Awards. Are there any other standout elements? The renovated Gucci Garden is an eclectic space that's constantly changing. Who can we expect to see here? This gallery is centrally located and popular with tourists, from fashion aficionados to those who've only heard of Gucci. Locals love this place, too. On the practical tip, how are the facilities? There are elevators and the bathrooms are particularly lovely. Any guided tours worth trying? Audio guides and guided tours are both available (for a fee), and both are worthwhile. If you come to the restaurant just to eat—and plenty of folks do—you'll also get a free ticket to the museum. We imagine the Gucci Garden has a pretty good gift shop. Accurate? This entire museum is as much a gift shop as it is a museum; in fact, it's considered one of the most covetable gift shops on Earth. In the actual gift shop, a fashionable bazaar-like retail space, you'll find clothes and accessories and objects for the home alongside smaller items like notebooks, pencils, and surprisingly affordable branded paperweights. All that museum-ing and shopping can really take it out of a person. What are our options for a refreshment at the museum? Three-Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura, of Osteria Francescana in Modena, is also behind the new 50-seat Gucci Osteria. It isn’t cheap—this is Gucci, after all—but the menu is great, with Italian classics like Parmigiano Reggiano tortellini, buttery cacio e pepe, and creamy mushroom risotto. Bottura has a sense of humor, too, offering high-end interpretations of American classics, including a hot dog, a burger (he's a vocal Shake Shack fan), and, for dessert, a piña colada. Sounds great, but we might be limited on time. Is it still manageable? This isn't a large museum, and you can definitely check it off in an hour. Just leave enough time to try the restaurant, which is a destination unto itself." - Bridget Arsenault