Palazzo delle Assicurazioni Generali

Palazzo delle Assicurazioni Generali, also known as Palazzo Lavison, is an imposing palace in Florence, located in Piazza della Signoria, across the square from Palazzo Vecchio.

SHORT HISTORY

Around 1864, some buildings in the area, such as the ancient Tower of the Infangati (Torre degli Infangati), the Church of Santa Cecilia, the seat of Arte del Cambio and the Pisani Loggia (Loggia dei Pisani), were demolished.

In 1871, the Baron Edoardo Lavison commissioned the architect Giovanni Carlo Landi to build a palace in their place.

In 1872, on the corner with Via Vacchereccia, the Rivoire Café was opened by the chocolatier and pastry chef Enrico Rivoire, which became over time one of the most famous places in Florence.

After it was owned by the Fenzi banking family, the palace was purchased at the beginning of the 20th century by the Assicurazioni Generali company.

Between 2010 and 2011, the palace was the subject of a structural consolidation and rehabilitation intervention. It was inaugurated in January 2012, under the new name of Palazzo del Leone.

ARCHITECTURE

The facade of the palace develops on four floors. On the ground floor, there are 9 arches occupied by large windows, except for the central one, which houses the main portal of the building.

On each of the upper floors, there are 9 two-light windows, framed by arches similar to those on the ground floor.

HOW TO GET THERE

Palazzo delle Assicurazioni Generali is located about 1.2 kilometers away from the Santa Maria Novella railway station. The closest bus stop is Galleria Degli Uffizi, located about 190 meters away in Piazza del Grano, on the bus Line C1.