The singular fourteenth-century Gothic building, in the oldest heart of Florence, is halfway between the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Palazzo della Signoria. 
The important architectural complex of Orsanmichele hosts on the ground floor 
the oratory dedicated to San Michele in Orto (hence the name), the result of the transformation of the original loggia of the grain market, dominated by two large halls intended to house the cereal warehouses, commissioned by the Municipality of Florence to guarantee nourishment to the city and avoid famine.
The ancient image of the Madonna venerated here and lost over time is recalled in the Madonna and Child, painted by Bernardo Daddi (1347), and framed by the grandiose marble tabernacle by Andrea di Cione known as l'Orcagna (1359). The internal decoration of the church presents a cycle of frescoes on the vaults (around 1389-1400), depicting the characters of the three eras of biblical history, while on the pillars the patron saints of the Arts (guilds of arts and crafts) are represented.
The Florentine Guilds were responsible for commissioning the statues of their patron saints to be placed in the aedicules along the external perimeter of the building. Today, the original sculptures have been replaced, for conservation reasons, by copies and the original works have been transferred to the museum on the first floor, which reveals an extraordinary gallery of monumental sculpture in bronze and marble of the Renaissance, with masterpieces by Lorenzo Ghiberti, Donatello, Nanni di Banco, Andrea del Verrocchio, and Giambologna.
On the second floor, its large mullioned windows offer splendid views of the city.
The entire Museum was reorganized in January 2024; an important work aimed at conservation, achieved through the thorough cleaning of the paintings in the Church and the sculptural works.
In addition to new supports designed for the statues, a series of explanatory panels have been created that complete the visit, telling visitors about the events that have involved the Orsanmichele Complex up to now.