Contenus masquer
1 History of the palace and its construction
2 Photo gallery
3 Guided Tours and Tickets
4 Visiting Itinerary of the Palazzo Vecchio
5 Where to Find the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence
6 Information: Hours and Links

The Palazzo Vecchio (lit. “Old Palace”), one of the most iconic buildings in Florence, stands on Piazza della Signoria. Once the seat of civic power, it now houses the City Hall as well as a museum where visitors can explore magnificent rooms decorated by great masters such as Agnolo Bronzino, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Giorgio Vasari. Works by Michelangelo, Donatello, and Verrocchio can also be admired there. The famous Salone dei Cinquecento (Hall of the Five Hundred) is particularly adorned with Michelangelo’s Genius of Victory and Vasari’s monumental frescoes.

Palazzo Vecchio in Florence

Palazzo Vecchio

Erected in 1322, this fortress-palace with its sober, crenellated appearance is a remarkable example of 14th-century Florentine civic architecture. Its tall Torre di Arnolfo, dominating the main façade, has become one of the city’s symbols. Over the centuries, the building was expanded eastward, thus quadrupling its original size.

Directly adjoining the Uffizi Gallery, the palace opens onto Piazza della Signoria, where, in front of its entrance, stand the replica of Michelangelo’s David and the sculptural group Hercules and Cacus by Baccio Bandinelli.

History of the palace and its construction

Over time, the palace has borne several names. First called Palazzo della Signoria (Palace of the Signoria), it housed the government of the commune. Later, it took the name Ducal Palace, until the Medici family moved their main residence to the Pitti Palace.

Construction began in 1299 under the direction of Arnolfo di Cambio (also responsible for the Cathedral and the church of Santa Croce). At a time marked by political tensions, Florence wanted to assert its power and strengthen its security. The first completion dates back to 1314. The building was erected on the ruins of two former palaces, incorporating into its structure the towers of the Vacca and Bizzo families.
This is probably the reason why the famous Arnolfo Tower, nearly 94 meters high, is not located at the center of the building. Of the typical crenellated Tuscan style, it also served as a prison: Cosimo I and the preacher Girolamo Savonarola were held there in the 15th century.
The clock, originally dating back to Donatello, was replaced with a new mechanism in the 17th century.

Photo gallery

Palazzo Vecchio in Florence
Michelozzo’s courtyard
Michelozzo’s courtyard
Courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Michelozzo’s courtyard
Hall of the Five Hundred, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Hall of the Five Hundred
Hall of the Five Hundred, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Hall of the Five Hundred
Hall of the Five Hundred, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Hall of the Five Hundred

Guided Tours and Tickets

 

Visiting Itinerary of the Palazzo Vecchio

The visit to the museum begins in the Court of Michelozzo, accessible from the main gate on Piazza della Signoria. The portico of the courtyard, decorated with stuccoes and frescoes, displays in its lunettes the emblems of the Florentine churches and guilds.

Hall of the Five Hundred and Studiolo of Francesco I

One then enters the great Hall of the Five Hundred (Salone dei Cinquecento), 54 meters long and 23 wide. The walls are covered with frescoes illustrating Florence’s victorious battles against Pisa and Siena. The ceiling, made up of 39 panels painted by Vasari and his pupils, depicts the major episodes in the life of Cosimo I de’ Medici. In the central niche on the south side stands Michelangelo’s Genius of Victory. During the brief period when Florence was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (1865–1871), this hall served as the seat of Parliament.

At the end of the Salone lies the Studiolo of Francesco I de’ Medici, designed by Vasari, which was a cabinet reserved for the grand duke’s studies and scientific research. The Mannerist decorations represent natural elements and human activities.

Hall of the five hundred, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Hall of the five hundred
Chapel of Eleonora, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Chapel of Eleonora
Audience hall, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Audience hall
Map room, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Map room
Lily Room, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Lily Room

The Monumental Quarters

The set of rooms on the first floor is known as the “monumental quarters,” due to their decorative richness celebrating the glory of the Medici. Among them is the Hall of Leo X, the pope and son of Lorenzo the Magnificent, featuring a majestic fireplace created by Bartolomeo Ammannati. The wall frescoes depict Leo X entering Florence triumphantly to appoint cardinals.

The Chapel of Eleonora and the Quarters of Eleonora were designed by Vasari for Duchess Eleonora di Toledo, wife of Cosimo I. These spaces include the Green Room, the Study, the chapel decorated by Agnolo Bronzino, the Sabine Room, the Esther Room, the Dining Room, the Penelope Room with its magnificent fireplace, and the Gualdrada Chamber, Eleonora’s private salon.

Remarkable Rooms on the Second Floor

The Audience Hall, or Hall of Justice, features a ceiling with gilded coffers. The Sala dei Gigli (Hall of Lilies) celebrates the emblem of the French crown and houses Donatello’s biblical statue of Judith and Holofernes, one of the palace’s oldest decorations.

The Hall of Maps preserves decorated furnishings and a globe of the Mappa Mundi made in 1581. The shelves display 53 geographical maps of the world of that period, created by Dominican friar Ignazio Danti and Stefano Buonsignori. Nearby, the Vecchia Cancelleria is said to have been Machiavelli’s former office and contains a bust of the famous advisor to the Duke.

The Mezzanine and the Loeser Collection

Between the first and second floors is the mezzanine, created by Michelozzo in 1453. It includes several rooms hosting the Loeser Collection, a precious gift donated by the American art critic Charles Loeser to the city of Florence.

Where to Find the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence

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Information: Hours and Links

Practical Information and Hours

  • Address: Piazza della Signoria, 50122 Florence, Italy
  • Opening hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., ticket office closes at 6 p.m.
  • Tickets: Adults: approx. €12, reduced: €8, free for certain groups (youth, residents, etc.)
  • Access: Main entrance from Piazza della Signoria. Audio guides and guided tours available.
  • Tip: Allow 2 to 3 hours for a full visit, especially to appreciate the monumental quarters and the Loeser Collection.

Links and Sources

Articles on Florence