Florence in Fragments: Visiting “Broken” at Palazzo Strozzi

A walk through Florence, photographs from Nicola’s visit, and an invitation to look more closely at what remains.

Broken. The Power of the Fragment runs at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence from 25 September 2026 to 24 January 2027. The exhibition explores fragments in sculpture, bringing ancient objects into conversation with modern and contemporary art. Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi

Nicola visited shortly after the opening and shared photographs of both the exhibition and the surrounding city. Together, these images suggest a thread connecting the two: a face separated from its body, a weathered wall, a small architectural detail. Each offers something to discover when we pause long enough to look.

A Walk Through Florence Before the Exhibition

Florence rewards attention at every scale.

There are the broad architectural views: a portico stretching along a square, the rhythm of columns, a street opening between tall façades. Then there are the quieter details. A small opening framed in stone. Patches of older decoration on an uneven wall. A doorway set into faded plaster.

Nicola’s street photographs give these details room to breathe. They provide a fitting introduction to an exhibition about fragments, encouraging us to notice individual elements before trying to assemble a larger picture.

A city can be read this way too: through surfaces, traces and small discoveries.

What Is “Broken. The Power of the Fragment” About?

The exhibition considers how a sculptural fragment can carry meaning in its own right. Its scope extends from ancient Egypt and classical antiquity to Michelangelo, Rodin and contemporary artists including Louise Bourgeois and Danh Vo. Organised with the National Gallery of Art in Washington, it examines both damage sustained through history and fragmentation used deliberately by artists. Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi

For the visitor, this opens up several questions:

• What draws our attention when only part of a figure survives?
• How does an absent body change the way we see a hand or a face?
• When does a fragment begin to feel complete on its own?

These questions offer an accessible way into the exhibition, even without specialist knowledge of sculpture.

When a Part Suggests the Whole

Among Nicola’s photographs, a hand and a foot make a particularly compelling pair.

Seen independently, these familiar forms become objects of close attention. The curve of a finger, the weight of a foot and the treatment of a surface take on greater importance. The eye follows details it might pass over in a complete figure.

There is also space for imagination. A hand can suggest a gesture; a foot can imply movement or stillness. We begin to picture what might once have surrounded them.

That act of looking gives the fragment its own presence. The missing parts remain a question, while the surviving form holds our attention.

Faces, Bodies and the Space Around Them

The photographed faces and partial figures create a different encounter.

A face invites us to search for expression. A torso draws attention to posture and balance. An interrupted outline makes the surrounding empty space more noticeable.

In these images, lighting and display sharpen the experience. A sculpture emerges from a dark background; another stands inside a glass case. The setting encourages the viewer to slow down and examine one object at a time.

Looking through the photographs, it is useful to follow three simple prompts:

• Look at the outline: where does the form stop?
• Notice the surface: what textures and marks are visible?
• Consider your response: what do you find yourself imagining?

A Change of Scale

One photograph shows a visitor standing before a monumental head. The human figure immediately gives the sculpture a sense of scale that a close-up alone could not convey.

From a distance, the head has an architectural presence. Closer inspection invites attention to its features and surface.

This shift between overall impression and individual detail gives the photographic sequence its rhythm. Small objects ask us to lean in; larger forms make us step back.

For anyone taking photographs during a museum visit, it is a useful reminder to leave room for both perspectives.

Returning to the Streets With Fresh Eyes

The exhibition’s theme also provides a way to revisit the photographs of Florence.

A worn patch of plaster or an isolated decorative detail can become a point of curiosity. What once surrounded it? What has changed? Why has this particular element survived?

These are questions rather than conclusions. They encourage a slower, more attentive encounter with the city.

For readers who enjoy discovering Tuscany through its cultural life, Nicola’s visit offers a starting point: spend time with an exhibition, then allow space for a walk and a few unplanned observations.

Planning Your Visit to Broken at Palazzo Strozzi

• Exhibition: Broken. The Power of the Fragment
• Venue: Palazzo Strozzi, Florence
• Dates: 25 September 2026–24 January 2027
• Opening hours: Daily, 10:00–20:00; Thursdays until 23:00
• Admission: Exhibition ticket required

These details are listed by Palazzo Strozzi. Check the official exhibition page for tickets and any updates before travelling. Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi

Discover More of Tuscany’s Cultural Life

Nicola’s photographs leave us with an invitation to pay attention: to the shape of a surviving hand, the scale of a sculpted face, or the traces visible on a city wall.

Explore more stories on My Cortona Blog for local perspectives on art, culture and everyday life in Tuscany.