Appearance is deceiving - one can rightfully characterize one of Florence's most famous architectural monuments - the Palazzo Vecchio, which, despite all the tricks of the architects and the assurances of the tourist booklets, looks rather formidable. However, there were very serious historical reasons for that. But its interior decoration is in no way inferior to the interiors of luxurious palaces of the Baroque and Classicism. And in cultural value - and surpasses them.
The Palazzo Vecchio has repeatedly appeared on BlogoItaliano, including in the list of the most interesting sights of Florence. But this palace definitely deserves a more detailed story, because its walls remember many events that played an important role in the history of Italy.
Palazzo Vecchio: backstory
Florence would not be Florence, if it were within its walls in the 13th century. the most fierce struggle did not flare up between the Guelphs (supporters of the pope’s power) and the Gibellins (supporters of the transition to the Holy Roman Empire).
Avoiding unnecessary details, it is worth clarifying: the pope and the emperor could not divide the Apennine peninsula, but, in the end, Guelphism defeated.
In Florence, a number of buildings that had previously belonged to wealthy Gibellin families, whose members were executed or expelled, were joyfully demolished. Including the palaces and towers of their leaders - Foraboski and Umberti.
Outside, the Palace building looks rather menacing
At the same time, a new system of urban governance was introduced - all priors (representatives of craft shops) were elected for a period of 2 months, and access to power for wealthy merchants, money-lenders and noblemen was ordered.
Along the way, several more councils were established, and the walls of the Palazzo del Bargello became cramped. It was decided to build a new office building on the site of the destroyed Ghibelline palaces. The rest of the cleared area could be given to ... an area where the people would gather to approve or reject decisions that are most important for the city (there was no discussion of the discussion). Today it is Signoria Square.
From the Palazzo Nuovo to the Palazzo Vecchio
The construction of the new palace was to begin in 1284. But it began only after 1293. Reliable sources confirming who was the architect of the future. Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, not preserved, although it is generally believed that this is Arnolfo di Cambio. The sample was taken by the Palazzo dei Priori in Volterra.
The palace was erected unusually quickly for its time: by 1299 its main part, with the exception of the tower, was ready. But he rather resembled a castle: loopholes, mashikuli, battlements.
A gallery was arranged on the upper perimeter of the building, from where it would be possible to calmly defeat enemies. However, given the political situation not only outside the city, but also within its walls, the authorities had every reason to fear an invasion at any time.
Majestic sculptures placed at the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio
The people still hoped for something, and unofficially dubbed the Palazzo Popolo building ("Palace of the People"; the townspeople and the Palazzo del Bargello also called it earlier), but there was no long wait for disappointment. Already in the XV century. the palace had to be renamed. Now it was called the Palazzo della Signoria ("Palace of Power"). By the way, this is the official name Palazzo Vecchio, preserved to this day.
For a while, however, it was also called the Palazzo Ducale ("Palace of the Duke", Cosimo I of Medici). And when the Medici finally moved to the Palazzo Pitti, the building lost its former administrative significance, which briefly returned to it in the late 60s - early 70s. XIX century And the palace with the light hand of the Florentines began to be called the Palazzo Vecchio.
Arnolfo Tower
The 94-meter high Arnolfo Tower deserves special attention in the architecture of the Palazzo. It was erected in 1314 on the site of the more ancient tower of La Vacco (with a bell that sounded like a roar of a bull - translated from Italian "vakko"), owned by Foraboschi.
Arnolfo's 94-meter tower is visible far beyond Signoria Square
Now Arnolfo Tower is a real decoration of Signoria Square, which offers amazing views of the nearby areas of Florence, and in the XV century it served as a place of detention for special persons. Cosimo de Medici, a prone to intrigue, and the rebel priest Girolamon Savanarola, who impose unnecessarily strict views on his flock of thousands, were detained here.
In the XVII century, a large city clock appeared on the facade, designed by Giorgio Lederle. Antique chronometer regularly shows the exact time to this day.
Palazzo Vecchio: interiors
But before you cross the threshold of the Palace, it is worth taking a closer look at the sculptures that adorn the Signoria Square. They are located in the Loggia dei Lanzi, to the right of the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio. These are copies. All but one is a bronze statue of Perseus Cellini. At the entrance to the palace is a copy of Michelangelo's “David” (the original is in the Academy Gallery) and Bandinelli's “Hercules and Cacus”.
To get inside the palace, you need to go through an elegant courtyard (architect Michelozzo). The courtyard is decorated with bas-reliefs with views of cities, churches and coat of arms. By the way, it was Mikelozzo who decorated the facade of the palace with lilies and shamrocks to give it a more secular look.
In the center of the courtyard there is a fountain with a copy of the sculpture "Cupid with a Dolphin" (original - on the 2nd floor of the palace). On the contrary, in the niche, there is the sculpture group "Samson and the Philistine" Pierino da Vinci (Leonardo's nephew).
The modern look of the Old Palace acquired thanks to Cosimo Medici
The Palazzo acquired a modern look thanks to Cosimo I the Medici, who ordered Vasari to complete the reconstruction of the palace, completely destroying the memory of the Republic.
However in Salon Five Hundred, from where the visit to the Palazzo Vecchio begins, on one of the walls there was previously an unfinished fresco of Leonardo's “Battle of Angyari”. Today, scientists have almost proved that it was not destroyed, but built up with another wall.
Battle scenes of Vasari adorn the walls in the Hall of Five
In this room, you should pay attention to the luxurious coffered ceiling, the frescoes of Vasari and his students and Michelangelo's sculptural group "Genius trampling brute force." At the end of the hall there is a small room where Cosimo’s son, Francesco, conducted alchemical experiments.
Behind the paintings and frescoes of Vasari, Allory, Bronzino were hiding places. The duke’s private chambers were also located on the ground floor - Hall of Elements (water, air, earth, fire, ether).
The walls of the apartments of Eleanor of Toledskaya are decorated with frescoes by Bronzino (mid-16th century)
On the 2nd floor there is also Hall of Elements, but smaller: it was the apartment of the wife of Cosimo, Eleanor of Toledo. The walls of her chambers are decorated with Bronzino frescoes filled with joy and light. On the same floor - the famous Lily Hall, named after the Anjou-Sicilian dynasty, which helped the Guelphs, on whose coat of arms there was a golden lily against a azure background.
In the hall - a statue of Judith Donatello. On one of the walls is an extensive fresco of Ghirlandaio, depicting St. Zinovius, the first bishop of Florence with other saints, as well as Brutus, Camille and Scipio as symbols of a free spirit.
Golden lilies adorn the walls and ceiling in the Lily Hall
Lily Hall is connected to Audienz Hall and Lion's Hall Xwhere you can see Vasari's fresco "The Siege of Milan". Fans of history and geography will surely linger in Vintage Card Hallhung with, of course, cards. In the middle of the hall is a huge wooden globe.
Hall of Antique Geographic Maps at the Palazzo Vecchio
Connoisseurs of works by old masters will not pass by paintings of the XIV-XVI centuries. from the collection donated by art historian C. Loser. AT Palazzo Vecchio there is also a rare collection of ancient bowed instruments, including the work of Amati and Stradivarius.
Address and opening hours of the Palazzo Vecchio
Address: The old palace, which is the translation of the Palazzo Vecchio, is located on Piazza della Signoria in the heart of Florence.
You can get here by city buses:
- route C1 - the final stop Galleria Degli Uffizi;
- route C2 - the final stop of Condotta;
- routes C3 and D - the terminus of Ponte Vecchio.
Opening hours.
For tourists visiting the Palazzo Vecchio is open daily, except December 25:
- from October to March from 9:00 to 19:00;
- from April to September from 9:00 to 23:00;
- on Thursday, in connection with the meeting of the government of Florence, the palace closes at 14:00.
The tower is open to visitors:
- in the winter months from 10:00 to 17:00
- in the summer from 9:00 to 21:00.
- on Thursday, like the palace itself, the tower is closed after 14:00.
Tickets for the Palazzo Vecchio
Like other most famous sights of Italy, the Palazzo Vecchio in the tourist season (and not only in the tourist) experiences a real invasion of tourists. With tour groups and individually, with and without excursions, as part of delegations and for educational purposes, people go and go to the palace building.
So it is often very difficult to buy tickets to the Palazzo Vecchio, especially since there is a security service at the entrance that checks all visitors, which slows down the already not-so-fast process.
The interiors of the Palazzo are decorated with frescoes by Vasari, Allori, Bronzino and others.
The most reliable option to avoid queues and have time to visit several attractions at once during a short visit to the Cradle of the Renaissance - book tickets to the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence in advance (the cost of tickets is not very high).
You can do this here, especially since the service offers several options for visiting the palace at once, each of which is unusual in its own way.
When planning your visit to Florence, be sure to include the Palazzo Vecchio in the tour program. He's worth it.
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Photos by: alessandraelle, aburt, cquintana, Richard Cassan, TuscanyArts, ohsarahrose, Robin Fabre, bvi4092, HarshLight, Steve Jurvetson
