Visiting Palazzo Vecchio

What to Expect

• The tour will start in the adjacent Signoria Square, considered the first open-air museum. There you will see: the Loggia dei Lanzi - an arched pavilion with statues under its roof; the sculpture 'Perseus with the Head of Medusa' by Benvenuto Cellini; the fountain 'Neptune', designed by Ammannati; the equestrian statue of Cosimo Medici, by the sculptor Giambologna. The history of Florence as a political and cultural center is intertwined with the Medici family, of which he is the progenitor.
• After getting acquainted with the square, we will head into Palazzo Vecchio (translated into English as 'Old Palace'). I will tell you about the history made here by the priors, the great orator and religious fanatic Savonarola, and, of course, the Medici family, showing you the works of art from the Renaissance era that are preserved within its walls. The best artists of that time worked on the interiors of Palazzo, which have remained almost unchanged to this day. I will also explain its current role in the city's political life.
  During the tour, you will visit:
• The internal courtyard, designed by Michelozzo in the early Renaissance style;
• The grand Hall of the Five Hundred, intended for meetings of the Grand Council of the People;
• The Hall of Leo X, the honorary Pope from the Medici family;
• The Hall of the Elements, adorned with allegorical figures representing air, earth, fire, and water;
• Two palace cabinet rooms, preserving elements of Renaissance decor - the Audience Hall and the Lily Room.
  Palazzo Vecchio is my favorite palace. It witnessed Florence's transformation from a medieval trading city into the 'cradle of the Renaissance', the shift of power, and the making of history. You can learn about all of this by studying books about Italy, participating in thematic tours, or simply by choosing the Old Palace as a unique 'time portal'.