Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Palazzo Vecchio is the monumental town hall of Florence, located in Piazza della Signoria, one of the most important civic spaces in the historic center. The palace stands beside the Uffizi Gallery, about 50 meters from its northern side, and about 300 meters from Ponte Vecchio. Known in English as the “Old Palace”, Palazzo Vecchio has been connected with Florentine government for more than seven centuries. It was built as a fortified seat for the city’s magistrates, later became a Medici residence, and still houses the Municipality of Florence, the Mayor’s offices, and the city council. The building is one of the clearest symbols of Florence’s political history. Its massive stone facade, high battlements, and 95-meter Torre di Arnolfo dominate Piazza della Signoria. Inside, the museum preserves medieval rooms, Renaissance halls, Medici apartments, archaeological remains, monumental frescoes, sculptures, maps, and civic artworks. Palazzo Vecchio is also one of the best places to understand Florence as a city-state. The building connects the Roman city of Florentia, the medieval republic, the Medici duchy, the short period when Florence was capital of Italy, and the modern civic administration of the city. Short History of Palazzo Vecchio Roman Read more [...]
Tag: Michelozzo in Florence
Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata
The Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata is a church in Florence, located in the homonymous square, in the northern part of the historical center of the city. SHORT HISTORY According to tradition, a small oratory dedicated to the Virgin was built on this area in 1081. Around 1233, the abandoned oratory was taken over by the Servants of Mary. In 1250, the Servants of Mary laid the first stone for the construction of a larger basilica. The church and the adjoining convent were dedicated to Santa Maria dei Servi, from the name of the religious order. In 1252, according to legend, the Servants of Mary commissioned a painter called Bartolomeo to paint a fresco of the Annunciation. Despite several attempts, the painter could not paint the face of the Virgin. One day, Bartolomeo fell asleep, and when he woke up, by a miracle, the painting was completed. The fresco became the object of great veneration and deep devotion of the Florentines. Towards the end of the 13th century, the floor of the church was redone and the choir stalls were carved by master Guglielmo of Calabria. In the first half of the 14th century, various chapels and altars were Read more [...]
Basilica of San Lorenzo
The Basilica of San Lorenzo is a beautiful church in Florence, located in the historical center of the city, in Piazza di San Lorenzo. SHORT HISTORY According to tradition, the church was built during the 4th century outside the walls of the ancient city. In 393, it was consecrated to the martyr Lawrence, in the presence of Saint Ambrose and Saint Zenobius. For the next 300 years, San Lorenzo was the Cathedral of Florence, before giving up the status to the Church of Santa Reparata, where the remains of San Zanobi, the first bishop of Florence, were solemnly transferred. In 1059, the church was enlarged and rededicated, on the initiative of the bishop Gherardo di Borgogna, when he became pope under the name of Niccolò II. In 1418, the abbot Matteo Dolfini obtained permission to demolish some houses to enlarge the transept of the church. Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici, a wealthy banker, financed the construction and named Filippo Brunelleschi to direct the works. The sacristy was finished in 1428, but then the works were stopped. After 1441, Cosimo de’ Medici, Giovanni’s son, assumed the entire burden of the construction, and the direction of the works passed to Michelozzo, Read more [...]
