In 1437 Cosimo il Vecchio de'Medici financed rebuilding the 12th century Sylvestrian monastery to house the reformed Dominicans of Fiesole.
Construction was carried out by architect Michelazzo, and wall decoration entrusted to Fra Giovanni da Fiesole, known as Fra Angelico, and his assistants.
The friary was consecrated in 1443 by Pope Eugenius IV. Open to the public in 1869 the art museum is in the oldest part of the building occupying about half the total space.