{"id":1693,"date":"2024-02-27T15:40:33","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T14:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/latoscane.net\/palazzo-vecchio\/"},"modified":"2025-09-20T18:52:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T16:52:36","slug":"palazzo-vecchio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.latoscane.net\/en\/palazzo-vecchio\/","title":{"rendered":"Palazzo Vecchio of Florence and museum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Palazzo Vecchio<\/strong> (lit. \u201cOld Palace\u201d), one of the most iconic buildings in Florence, stands on Piazza della Signoria<\/a>. 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<\/em> (Hall of the Five Hundred) is particularly adorned with Michelangelo\u2019s Genius of Victory<\/em> and Vasari\u2019s monumental frescoes.<\/p>\n

\"Palazzo<\/a>

Palazzo Vecchio<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/em>, dominating the main fa\u00e7ade, has become one of the city\u2019s symbols. Over the centuries, the building was expanded eastward, thus quadrupling its original size.<\/p>\n

Directly adjoining the Uffizi Gallery<\/a>, the palace opens onto Piazza della Signoria, where, in front of its entrance, stand the replica of Michelangelo\u2019s David<\/em> and the sculptural group Hercules and Cacus<\/em> by Baccio Bandinelli.<\/p>\n

History of the palace and its construction<\/h2>\n

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

Construction began in 1299 under the direction of Arnolfo di Cambio<\/strong> (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<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n

Photo gallery<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Palazzo<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Michelozzo\u2019s courtyard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Michelozzo\u2019s courtyard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Courtyard<\/a>
Michelozzo\u2019s courtyard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Hall<\/a>
Hall of the Five Hundred<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Hall<\/a>
Hall of the Five Hundred<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Hall<\/a>
Hall of the Five Hundred<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n

Guided Tours and Tickets<\/h2>\n
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