Vasari fresco in the Palazzo Vecchio. Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. Hall and "Battles" by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti

Construction of the Palazzo Vecchio

Palazzo Vecchio is located in Piazza della Signoria, on the site where the Roman theater used to be. A natural slope of 5 meters on the southeast side of the Roman colony of Florentia was used by builders to build a theatre, on which work began in the 1st century BC.

After the formation of the Florentine Republic, a new building was needed to house the government, the construction of which was commissioned by the guilds of Arnolfo di Cambio in 1298. In 1342, 30 years after the completion of the project of Arnolf di Cambio, Gualtero VI of Bienne, the Duke of Athens, the new Signor or ruler of the city, began to expand the building. The building underwent more alterations in 1440-1460, under the leadership of Cosimo Medici.

Architecture of the Palazzo Vecchio

The Palazzo Vecchio was modeled after the city's earlier Palazzo Tuscany administrative building. But unlike the prototype, the Palazzo Vecchio looks more monumental, unified. Clear rectangular shapes were supposed, but thin cornices run along the facade, which visually divide the building into three blocks. The tower crowned with battlements, whose height is 94 m, as if repeats the cornice of the building.

Tower of the Palazzo Vecchio

Arnolfo di Cambrio included the ancient tower of the Feraboschi family (known as La Vacca, or "The Cow") in the façade of the new building. It is for this reason that the tower is not centered relative to the building, but shifted to an angle. There are two small chambers in this tower, in which, at different times, Cosimo de Medici (1435) and Girolamo Savonarola (1498) were imprisoned. The tower was named after its designer - igner Torre d'Arnolfo. The large clock on the tower was originally designed in 1353 by the Florentine Nicolo Bernardo, but in 1667 they were replaced by a copy made by Georg Lederde from the German town of Augsburg.

Now there are 3 bells in the tower. The oldest of them dates back to the 13th century.

The Dark History of the Palazzo Vecchio

In 1478, under the leadership of Francesco Pazzi, a conspiracy was organized to overthrow the power of the Medici. As a result, the unfortunate conspirators, along with their leader, were hanged on the windows of the Palazzo Vecchio. Bernardo di Bandino Baroncello, the murderer of Giuliano de' Medici, was hanged from the windows of the same Palazzo Vecchio on December 20, 1479. The story of the hanging of Francesco Pazzi is played up in the novel by Thomas Harris "Hannibal" and the film of the same name by Ridley Scott and the television series by Bryan Fuller; the hanging scene is also featured in the Assassin's Creed II computer game.

"Old Palace"

Duke Cosimo I de' Medici (later Grand Duke) moved his official residence from their palace (located on via Larga) to the Palazzo della Signoria in May 1540, thereby asserting Medici authority in Florence. , he renamed the former palace to Palazzo Vecchio, that is, the "Old Palace", although the area adjacent to it, Piazza della Signoria still bears its original name. Cosimo also commissioned Giorgio Vasari to build an elevated passage, the Vasari Corridor, running from the Palazzo Vecchio, through, passing over to. Cosimo I also moved the seat of government to the Uffizi.

The Palazzo Vecchio again took on an important place, becoming the seat of the Italian provisional government in 1865 - 71, during the period when Florence became the temporary capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Although now much of the Palazzo Vecchio has been turned into a museum, it still remains the symbol and center of government. Since 1872, the office of the mayor of Florence and the hall of the City Council have been located here.

Museum of the Palazzo Vecchio

Visiting the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio:

• No entry for children under 6
• Entrance to the tower may be restricted due to rain
• Under 18s - only accompanied by an adult

Visiting the Palazzo Vecchio:

• Address: Piazza della Signoria

Palazzo Vecchio opening hours:

• October to March
  hedgehog, except Thu 9:00 - 19:00
  Thu 9:00 - 14:00
• April to September
  hedgehog, except Thu 9:00 - 23:00
  Thu 9:00 - 14:00
  
  
• MEZZANINE-LOESER BEQUEST
  hedgehog, except Thu 9:00 - 19:00
  Thu 9:00 - 14:00

Tower and fortifications

• October to March
  hedgehog, except Thu 10:00 - 17:00 (last admission 16:30)
  Thu 10:00 - 14:00 (last admission 13:30)
• April to September
  hedgehog, except Thu 9:00 - 21:00
  Thu 9:00 - 14:00

CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS

Ticket offices close 1 hour before the museum closes

Tickets for Palazzo Vecchio:

Reduced ticket - Europeans 18 - 25 years old, students

Free entrance - up to 18 years.

The construction of the Palazzo Vecchio began in 1299 on the site of the estate of the disgraced Uberti family. She fell into disgrace after the defeat of the party of Ghibellines, who supported the emperor, in a confrontation with the Guelphs - adherents of the Pope. Members of the Uberti family, as supporters of the Ghibellines, were killed or expelled from the city, and their residence was completely destroyed. And for some time this place was empty, until the priors sitting within the walls of the "old palace" decided that they needed another government building.

The development of the project was entrusted to the architect Arnolfo di Cambio, already well-known at that time, the creator of such architectural masterpieces as the Basilica of Santa Croce. Construction lasted 15 years and ended in 1314. Initially, the castle was uncomplicatedly called Palazzo Nuovo, which meant "new palace". Later it was renamed Signoria, and when the Tuscan Duke Cosimo I of the Medici family settled here, the name Palazzo Ducale appeared. A few years later, the duke moved to another castle, and then the future town hall became Palazzo Vecchio (translated as "old palace").

Throughout its existence, this building has been closely associated with political life. In the 15th century, sentences were announced and executions took place on the square in front of him, the most famous of which can be considered the hanging of the conspirator Francesco Pazzi and his accomplices right on the windows of the palace. In the late 1400s, during the rise of the monk Savonarola, who became the de facto ruler of Florence, the Republican Assembly met here. Later, the Medici who returned to power moved to the Palazzo Vecchio. And even when they changed their residence, the palace still housed government agencies. Today, there is the city hall and at the same time a museum.

How to get there

The famous Palazzo Vecchio is located in the very center of the city on. Therefore, if you are in the central part, we recommend that you do not look for transport, but walk to it.

The exact address: Piazza Signoria 1.

Very close to Palazzo Vecchio there is a bus route:

Option 1

Bus: route number C2 to the Condotta stop.

On foot: the stop is located next to the square, which will have to be crossed to get to the castle.

Within half an hour you can walk to the palace from the station of Santa Maria Novella

Option 1

On foot: follow via Faenza, turning into via F.Zannetti, then turn onto via dei Cerretani, and then onto via Roma.

Palazzo Vecchio on the map

Arnolfo tower

The slender Arnolfo clock tower is the main decoration of the Palazzo Vecchio. It rises 94 meters above Piazza della Signoria. Tourists go up here to look around the whole of Florence from the observation deck and take amazing panoramic photos.

Actually, Arnolfo's clock tower became only in 1667, when the city clock by the master Lederle was installed on it. Interestingly, they still regularly show the time! Previously, the building was used as a prison, both Cosimo de Medici, prone to intrigues, and the fanatical monk Savonarola managed to be imprisoned here.

Currently, the tower is open to visitors, but only in good weather. To get inside, first you need to find a staircase with a sign "Tower And Battlements" in the hall of the Palazzo Vecchio and go upstairs. There will be another staircase leading to the upper observation deck. Please note that visitors are allowed to enter it in groups so as not to overload the structure and not create a crowd - you may have to wait a bit.

Several stone steps in a narrow passage lead to the very top of the tower. Here you can fully experience the mysterious and slightly gloomy atmosphere of a medieval castle. But now the last steps have been passed, and you are on the roof! Sunny Florence stretches in all directions, and you can look around the city from a bird's eye view right up to the horizon. Along with the Arnolfo Tower, it offers the city's guests the best panoramic views.

Interior decoration

Outwardly severe, monumental Palazzo Vecchio shows all its splendor in the design of the interior halls. They are located on three tiers, and each has its own theme. The main one is the Hall of Five Hundred, but we will talk about it in more detail a little later. Now let's look at other, no less bright and luxurious rooms of the castle.

Apartments of Leo X or the Medici family- this part of the complex combines three halls dedicated to members of a powerful family who played a significant role in the history of the city and the whole. The first room is decorated with drawings from the life of Cosimo the Elder (the one who was once imprisoned in the Arnolfo tower), the second with scenes involving his grandson Lorenzo the Magnificent, and the third with portraits of Pope Leo X.

Halls of the Elements- five rooms with frescoes depicting the symbols of fire, water, earth and air. This apartment once belonged to Duke Cosimo I, where he lived before moving to Palazzo Pitti. At one time, the duke ordered the painting of the halls by Giorgio Vasari, and this was the first work of the master for representatives of the Medici dynasty. Subsequently, the artist more than once enjoyed the patronage of a powerful family. Of all the paintings, the image of Venus the Foam-born (a symbol of the water element) attracts the most attention. No less interesting is the god of agriculture, Saturn, made on the ceiling of one of the halls. Also in this part of the Palazzo Vecchio there are two loggias with outdoor terraces, which you can go out to freshen up and take a few photos.

Apartments Eleonora Toledskaya- the rooms of the wife of Cosimo I, among which the Green Hall with a chapel and the Penelope Hall, where the original painting by Botticelli "Madonna and Child" is kept, stand out. The latter may also interest visitors with scenes from the Odyssey and a magnificent ceiling painting - it depicts Penelope herself at the loom. From the Green Hall, you can get into a long gallery connecting the Palazzo Vecchio with the neighboring Palazzo Pitti - it was called the Vasari Corridor.

Hall of Maps- Another interesting room on the second floor of the palace. Here are ancient geographical maps made by the monk and scientist Ignato Danti. They fully reflect the ideas about the world of the times of the 16th century. The central exhibit is a huge globe on a small pedestal, which has been kept in the Palazzo Vecchio since 1581.

audience hall- ceremonial apartments for receptions and working meetings of Cosimo I. In this room you can see fragments of the oldest interior of the Palazzo Vecchio, preserved from the time of the Florentine Republic.

First patio

You can get to the First Courtyard directly after the main entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio. Here, visitors always want to linger a little, because at the gate there are two majestic sculptures: David by the hand of Michelangelo himself and Hercules, made by the Italian master Bandinelli. However, as for David, a copy of the sculpture adorns the doorway, and the original is kept in the Academy of Fine Arts.

There is one legend associated with the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio. It is believed that on the wall behind the statue of Hercules, you can see a drawing by Michelangelo, who bet with a friend that he could sketch the face of the condemned to death, standing with his back to him. Whether this is true or not is unknown, but some of the tourists claim that something similar can really be seen on the wall.

However, let's return to the patio - from the first steps it strikes with a luxurious, but at the same time cozy atmosphere. The walls here are decorated with panoramas of Austrian cities, the ceiling is supported by carved columns, and in the center there is a fountain with a copy of the sculpture “Cupid with a Dolphin” by Andrea Verrocchio. The original can also be seen - it is stored on the second floor of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Giorgio Vasari worked on the interior of the courtyard, who was tasked with making this place pleasant for Joanna of Austria, the wife of Francesco Medici. Therefore, the Austrian theme was chosen for the decoration of the walls, reminding the young duchess of her homeland.

After inspecting the courtyard, you can go to the lobby of the Palazzo Vecchio, to the dressing room or to the museum box office. It is worth noting here that visitors with backpacks or bulky bags should, after buying a ticket, go towards the dressing room and hand over their things to the storage room. With backpacks, entry to the Palazzo Vecchio Museum is prohibited, but this may not be warned at the time of ticket purchase.

Hall of Five Hundred

The huge Hall of the Five Hundred, which stretches for more than 50 meters in length, occupies most of the ground floor of the Palazzo Vecchio. It was intended for the People's Council of the Florentine Republic, and during the reign of Savonarola - for meetings of the Assembly.

One interesting story is connected with its interior. Initially, two great creators of Renaissance Italy, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, were invited to decorate the walls and ceiling. But, unfortunately, now in the Palazzo Vecchio we will not see these paintings. Both artists completed sketches of battle frescoes, but subsequently only Leonardo da Vinci set to work. He worked for about three years, but never completed the picture. There is an opinion that the master's experiments with paints in this case were not entirely successful, the fresco began to quickly collapse. Whatever it was, it remained unfinished. After the return to power of the Medici, the Palazzo Vecchio was reconstructed, as a result of which the fresco of Leonardo was hidden by a painting by Giorgio Vasari.

As for Michelangelo, instead of frescoes, visitors can admire another creation of this master. In the Hall of Five Hundred is the original sculpture "Genius tramples on brute force", on which the creator worked in the period 1533-1534. Perfectly preserved, it is one of the pearls of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Lily Hall

One of the most majestic rooms on the second floor is the Lily Hall. It is named so due to the decoration in the form of golden lily flowers, which are part of the coat of arms of the French family of Anjou. The representative of this dynasty, the Count of Anjou, once supported the supporters of the Pope. And the Guelphs, having come to power, thanked the family in this way.

The entrance to these apartments is decorated in the form of a snow-white marble portal, and the walls are occupied by a large-scale fresco by Ghirlindo depicting Brutus, Cicero, Saint Zanobius (the first bishop of Florence) and other prominent figures. Also here are paintings by Salviati based on the life of the Roman ruler Camillus - it is believed that this is how the artist allegorically portrayed Cosimo de Medici himself.

An important place among the exhibits of the Hall of Lilies is occupied by the original sculpture by Donatello "Judith and Holofernes". Once it stood on the square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, but at the end of the 20th century, for the sake of safety, it was moved to the palace, and a copy was installed in its original place.

Working hours and ticket price

The Palazzo Vecchio Museum is open according to the following schedule:

• From April to September - from 09:00 to 23:00;
• From October to March - from 09:00 to 19:00.

There are no days off, but on Wednesdays the museum has a reduced schedule - opening hours from 09:00 to 14:00. The cash desk stops working 1 hour before the closing of the complex.

There are several types of tickets that give you the right to visit different parts of the Palazzo Vecchio:

• Full ticket - 18 euros ( ~1 320 rub. );
• Museum and entrance to the tower - 14 euros ( ~1 026 rub. );
• Museum and archaeological area - 14 euros ( ~1 026 rub. );
• Museum only - 10 euros ( ~733 rub. );
• Only the entrance to the tower - 10 euros ( ~733 rub. ).

There are also reduced tickets for students and young people aged 18-25, they cost 2 euros cheaper. Children under 18 years old are free when accompanied by an adult.

Before the visit, check the information on, where you can also find out about the events held at the Palazzo Vecchio.

As an interesting option, the museum offers a "family package" for visitors with children from 6 to 13 years old. It includes information materials, an album of the Medici family, a map, binoculars, as well as fun crowns and hats for children. The set can be rented free of charge for 2 hours at the Palazzo Vecchio Information Point.

And after the tour of the palace, we recommend that you linger a little more in Piazza della Signoria, which in itself is like a large museum. Pay attention to the fountain of Neptune - oddly enough, at the time of its creation, the inhabitants were very skeptical of this new architectural object. Now, he is always admired. Near the fountain you can see the monument to Cosimo I, images of which are often found in the Palazzo Vecchio. And you should definitely visit the Loggia of Lanzi, where today there are sculptures by Benvenuto Cellini, Giambologna, Pio Fedi and others.

If after that you decide to continue your tour of interesting places in Florence, just a couple of steps away is the famous Uffizi Gallery, which contains a huge collection of works of art. And if you want to stay under the open sky, go to the oldest bridge in Europe, Ponte Vecchio, or take a walk along the beautiful Arno embankment. Here, in the historic center of Florence, at every step you will be met by architectural masterpieces and traces of the great past of this city.

Business card

Address

Piazza Signoria 1, Florence, Italy

Official website of the Palazzo Vecchio

Price

Full ticket - 18 euros ( ~1 320 rub. ), museum and entrance to the tower - 14 euros ( ~1 026 rub. ), museum and archaeological area - 14 euros ( ~1 026 rub. ), museum only - 10 euros ( ~733 rub. ), only the entrance to the tower - 10 euros ( ~733 rub. ), students and youth (18-25 years old) - 2 euros cheaper, children under 18 years old - free of charge accompanied by adults

Working hours

From April to September - from 09:00 to 23:00, from October to March - from 09:00 to 19:00, on Wednesdays - until 14:00

Is there something wrong?

Report inaccuracies

One of the mandatory points of the trip if you have a trip to Italy and Florence on the route will most likely be the Palazzo Vecchio, which used to be called the Senoria's palace. Built almost 8 centuries ago, even today it amazes with its luxury and sophistication.

Even if you are completely unaware of the intricacies of architectural styles and medieval painting, you will be fascinated by its slightly formidable appearance of the building itself and the flirtatiousness of the three courtyards, which literally breathe antiquity and are saturated with the aromas of previous centuries.

The Palazzo Vecchio will take you prisoner without any fight. And then you will be blown away by the richness of the interiors of the central hall of the Cinquecento, aka the Hall of Five Hundred, 52 meters long, which is decorated with 500-year-old frescoes, the grandeur of the Senoria Chapel and the luxury of the Dressing Room.

2.
Palace frescoes

History pages:

• 1299 - the year of construction. It was erected as the seat of the Florentine government on the site of an old Ghibelline fortress, and was called the New Palace.
• 15th century - since the leadership of the commune began to call themselves seniors, their residence became the Palace of the Signoria.
• The middle of the 16th century - the Duke of Tuscany Cosimo Medici settled here and called his abode Palazzo Ducale.
• The end of the 16th century - the Medici moved to the Palazzo Pitti, and the old residence began to be called the Palazzo Vecchio (old palace). Here they began to store family jewels and ceremonial costumes.
• 1871 - everything returned to normal, and the Florentine city administration was again located here.

What to see in the palace:

• Main entrance. On the sides of it are the statues of Michelangelo "David" and Bandinelli's "Hercules and Cacus". To go on a tour of Italy and not see a single creation of the great Buonarotti is an unforgivable mistake.
• Courtyards with statues of Verrocchio, a dolphin fountain and frescoes by Vasari.
• The walls of the hall of the Cinquecento with scenes of battles in which Florence was victorious. There are also ceilings depicting 39 events from the life of Cosimo de' Medici and sculptures in niches, among them Michelangelo's "Genius of Victory".
• Hall of Elements on the second floor.
• Terrace of Saturn, from which Florence is seen at its best.
• Senoria Chapel with biblical frescoes and a statue of Donatello "Judith and Holofernes".
• Dressing room with globe and maps from the 16th century. It was through this room that the heroes of Dan Brown's novel Inferno escaped from the palace.

3.
Evening panorama

Information for travelers:

Address: Piazza della Signoria, Firenze, Italy

Working hours:

Museum:
October - March: Thu: 9.00 - 14.00, other days: 9.00 - 19.00
April - September: Thu: 9.00 - 14.00, other days: 9.00 - 24.00

Tower:
October - March: Thu: 9.00 - 14.00, other days: 9.00 - 17.00
April - September: Thu: 9.00 - 14.00, other days: 9.00 - 21.00
Free admission half an hour before closing.

Ticket price:

Museum or tower separately:
adult - 10 euros, 18-25 over 65 years old - 8 euros, up to 18 years old - free of charge.

Combination ticket (museum + tower):
adult - 14 euros, 18-25 over 65 years old - 12 euros, up to 18 years old - free of charge.

The entrance to the tower is prohibited for children under 6 years old, as well as for all visitors in the rain. Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

How to get there:

There are two ways to get here from a fairly popular resort:

• by bus (goes 1-2 times a week depending on the month);
• with a change in the town of Faenza. The train there - around 06-24, back - 19-40. Almost 2 times cheaper than by bus!!! It can also be reached, for example, via

Palazzo Vecchio is a symbol of Florence and the medieval town hall of the city, located in the historic center, on Signoria Square (Piazza della Signoria). The monumental palace-fortress is made in the Romanesque style and differs from many Florentine buildings in its high jagged tower and walls of the upper tier. Palazzo Vecchio in Florence is considered a real architectural gem, and now - a national art museum, which presents masterpieces of the Renaissance.

The characteristic façade of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, made of rough brick, is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.

Construction history

In 1299, the guilds and the inhabitants of Florence jointly decided to build a majestic palace, which was to become the city hall. Arnolfo di Cambio was invited to work on a large-scale project, who began to build a palazzo on the site of several palaces of the Uberti family, demolished in 1295. Di Cambio designed a building with a high crenellated tower, which was called the Arnolfo Tower (Torre di Arnolfo) and reached a height of 94 meters. It housed two small prison cells, in which Cosimo de Medici senior, Girolamo Savonarola and others were later imprisoned. then - the "Palace of the Signoria" (Palazzo della Signoria). In the XVI century, the town hall was called the Palazzo Ducale (Palazzo Ducale), since the building became the residence of Duke Cosimo Medici. In the same period, the building was reconstructed and acquired the features of Renaissance architecture. Only decades later, the city the town hall began to be called the Palazzo Vecchio (Palazzo Vecchio) - "Old Palace", and the building became a repository of the Medici family jewels and ceremonial costumes. In 1871, the Palazzo Vecchio was returned to its original function, and the building became the seat of the city administration of Florence. In the early twentieth century century, the city hall moved to another building, and the medieval palazzo became an art museum.

The upper tier of the Palazzo Vecchio consists of arched windows, as well as a number of arched loopholes, in the niches of which are the coats of arms of noble Florentine families, communities and guilds.

Facade design features

Palazzo Vecchio (Palazzo Vecchio) in Florence is a building, in terms of having a square regular shape, lined with brick and rough stone. On the facade of the building there are two rows of double-leaf Gothic windows, each of which is complemented by a carved stone frame in the shape of a shamrock. The architecture of the palace is distinguished by clear forms - the characteristic decor of the facade consists of narrow geometric cornices that visually divide the building into 3 tiers. The upper gallery, topped with battlements, forms a single composition with the Arnolfo Tower, characteristic of Gothic Italian architecture. At the base of the tower there is a clock that still runs today - 400 years later.

Arnolfo's tower is crowned with double merlons, simple Venetian double-leaf windows, and a row of arched slits with sharp ends.

The decoration of window openings, characteristic of Renaissance architecture, is characteristic - archivolts lined with rusticated panels. Above the entrance of the central portal is a decorative marble pediment, decorated with a sculptural composition depicting two gilded lions. Between the statues of lions is a relief with the monogram of Jesus Christ, which reads: "King of kings, ruler of lords" (Rex Regum et Dominus Dominantium). On both sides of the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio are two famous sculptures: "Hercules" and "Cacus" by Bartolomeo Bandinelli (Bartolomeo Bandinelli). And directly in front of the entrance, on a high pedestal, there is a statue, which is also a symbol of Florence - "David" by Michelangelo (Michelangelo).

The decorative pediment of the main entrance to the Florentine Palazzo Vecchio is also decorated with paintings depicting the starry sky, a traditional motif of Gothic architecture.

In addition to the sculptures in front of the main entrance, the Palazzo Vecchio is practically devoid of sculptural decoration, which was traditional for the architecture of the early Gothic, as well as the early Renaissance - the main trends in the traditions of which the palace was decorated. The decor of the courtyard-patio almost completely coincides with the elements of the upper tier of the facade - the arcade, in the lunettes of which there are coats of arms of church brotherhoods and Florentine communities. Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, along with the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Santa Maria del Fiore), is a symbol of the city and one of the most visited attractions in Italy.

Palazzo Vecchio - the old palace in Piazza della Signoria is one of the most famous symbols of Florence. I wanted to visit it in the first place, because almost the entire history of the political life of the city revolves around this gloomy building. The palace found the ancient times of the republic, against its background there was an exaltation, flourishing, and then the extinction of the Medici family, the unification of Italy and many other events of the turbulent Florentine history. And nowadays the Palazzo Vecchio has turned into a museum, which I highly recommend you go to if you find yourself in Florence.

Story

In the ancient Roman era, a theater was located on the site of the current palace, and in the early Middle Ages, the noble Uberti family settled here, building here, as was customary then, a whole fortress with dozens of houses and towers - for more relaxed communication with neighbors. At that time, two parties fought furiously in Florence - the Guelphs (supporters of the Pope) and the Ghibellines (followers of the emperor). The Uberti belonged to the latter, and after the defeat of the Ghibellines, they were partly slaughtered, partly expelled from the city. Their fortress was completely demolished, they even say that the earth on this place was sprinkled with salt - the furious fury of civil war ...

And after some time, a new palace began to be built on an abandoned wasteland. Arnolfo di Cambio supervised the work, the construction lasted almost 15 years and was completed in 1314. Almost immediately, the new palace began to be used as a government building. In the 15th century, it was called the Palazzo della Signoria, since the republican power, the signoria, was in it, which included the gonfalonier of justice and 24 priors, re-elected every two months.

The architecture of the palace is typical of medieval Florence - it is a building closed on all sides, resembling a fortress and practically devoid of any artistic delights. In those troubled years, noble families, as already mentioned, built their houses in such a way that they could withstand an enemy siege. There are plenty of examples of such buildings today in Florence. As for our palace, pay attention to the arched spans at the top. Now we see here images of the coats of arms of the Florentine guilds, and once there were embrasures for throwing stones and vara at the besiegers.

So, by the 15th century, the palace and the square in front of it became the center of the political life of Florence: from here the bell announced the gathering of the people, sentences were announced here, criminals were executed, riots were staged - in general, normal medieval life flowed.
Since the rise of the Medici family and their gradual rise to power, the palace has somewhat lost its significance. However, the main events of Florentine history still took place around him. The palace survived the expulsion of the Medici in 1494, the rise and subsequent execution of the inspired and fanatical monk Savonarola (the Assembly was sitting in the palace at that time) and the return of the Medici to power. The representative of the new branch of the dynasty - Cosimo I - was the first of the Medici who settled in the Palace of the Signoria in 1537. It was symbolic: the games for the republic ended, the era of monarchical, in fact, rule began. True, the growing family soon became crowded here, and the Medici moved to Palazzo Pitti, on the other side of the Arno River. Since then, the palace on Signoria Square has received its current name - Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace).

Subsequently, various state institutions of the Medici were located here, and in that short period when it was the capital of the Italian Kingdom, the palace served as the seat of parliament. Today, the Palazzo Vecchio is used as the city hall and attracts tourists as one of the most interesting Florentine museums. What can you see inside the Palazzo Vecchio?

Buying tickets. Courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio

The museum in the palace works in the following mode:

• from October to March daily from 9:00 to 19:00 (Thursday from 9:00 to 14:00);
• from April to September from 9:00 to 23:00 (Thursday from 9:00 to 14:00).

Ticket offices of the Palazzo Vecchio (1) are not located on the street, but inside the palace on the ground floor. Therefore, anyone can get into the courtyard of the building for free. You can enter either through the front door (2), next to which is a copy of the famous "David" by Michelangelo, or through the gate from via dei Gondi (3).

Keep in mind that the main entrance is often closed, but this does not mean that the museum is closed today - you just need to go around the palace on the left side. By the way, next to this "side" entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio, in the wall, there is a fountain with very tasty and cold drinking water. In summer, it became a real salvation for me, especially since there are not so many such “drinking bowls” in Florence as in Rome. However, if the front door is open, it is better to enter the palace through it.

Stop at the entrance: an interesting legend is connected with the wall of the palace, located behind the back of the statue of Hercules. Allegedly, a drawing was scribbled on this wall and not by anyone, but by Michelangelo himself. He seemed to be watching the execution of a certain criminal in Piazza della Signoria and argued with a friend that he would be able to draw the face of the condemned man on the wall, standing with his back to her and not turning his head. I can confirm: something like this is really scrawled here, although I did not manage to find it right away. I wonder if you can?

Going inside, we find ourselves in a small, luxuriously decorated courtyard (4): Arabic script on the ceiling, walls painted with panoramas of Austrian (at the time of the 16th century) cities, and in the center - a fountain by Verrocchio. The courtyard was decorated in this style in honor of the wedding of Francesco Medici with Joan of Austria - for the Medici at that time it was extremely important to intermarry with the royal families of Europe and thus strengthen their own power.

After looking at the decoration of the courtyard, we pass into the central vestibule of the palace (5). Museum ticket offices (6) are located closer to the entrance from the side street. The entrance to the dressing room and toilets (7) is located at the opposite end of the hall. I draw your attention to the fact that they are allowed into the toilet only upon presentation of a museum ticket, just like that - no, no, even announcements about this are posted in different languages.

In the dressing room there is a large wooden model of the Palazzo Vecchio, and next to it, in several rooms, there is a small exhibition that can be viewed free of charge.

Now is the time to buy tickets. There are three main zones, tickets for which are sold both together and separately. Firstly, this is the Museum itself (halls of the palace), and secondly, the Archaeological Zone (you can go down and inspect the results of the excavations). And thirdly, the Tower and the roof of the palace: it works according to its own schedule:

• from April to September from 9:00 to 21:00 (on Thursday - until 14:00);
• . from October to March from 10:00 to 17:00 (Thursday from 10:00 to 14:00).

Regarding the tower, I’ll note right away: visitors are not allowed in regularly. So, for example, access is terminated when it rains. And when I climbed the Tower, it didn’t rain, but at some point a nervous caretaker ran up to me and said that something had happened to them, and you couldn’t climb to the very top, but you could only go to the penultimate level, and quickly - In half an hour you have to go down. In general, then I had to run around pretty much, and you just take this information into account.

Now a few words about prices. They differ depending on which area of ​​the palace you want to visit:

• Museum 10 EUR;
• Museum + Tower 14 EUR;
• Museum + Archaeological area 14 EUR;
• General ticket 18 EUR;
• Archaeological area 4 EUR;
• Roof and Tower 10 EUR.

I had an incomprehensible hitch when buying a ticket. I chose the Museum + Tower option, and the ticket attendant began to explain to me that the tower would open in half an hour, but for now I had to wait. My Italian was never enough to find out: why can't you buy a ticket now and wait half an hour before opening - my aunt was adamant. I had to stand in line again after 30 minutes - then there were no problems.

Finally, having examined everything described above, we will begin our journey through the halls of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Museum of the Palazzo Vecchio

Hall of Five Hundred

It is most convenient to start the tour from the largest and most famous premises of the palace - the Hall of Five Hundred. Once the People's Council gathered here, and during the years of the exile of the Medici, the Assembly met in this hall. The Hall of Five Hundred, like most other rooms, acquired its current appearance in the 16th century. Before moving here, Cosimo the First ordered Vasari to do a lot of work on the reconstruction of the halls of the palace. The interior of the Hall of Five Hundred has been almost completely changed. For Cosimo, it was essential to get rid of any reminder of the period of republican power and decorate the hall in a new, ideologically sustained style. As a result, little has survived from the old decoration, which is a pity - after all, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo worked on the wall paintings in those years, among other masters. It is believed that this was the only time when two geniuses participated in the same work (they couldn’t stand each other). There is either a legend, or a well-founded hypothesis that Vasari preserved Leonardo's fresco by simply placing his work on top of it.

One way or another, but the current appearance of the Hall of Five Hundred is very impressive. During the Medici times, ceremonial receptions were held here, and even now the hall is often used for various events. So, for example, passing one late evening past the palace, I saw ladies and gentlemen dressed in antiques decorously entering the front door. Obviously, such balls are not uncommon here.
The paintings on the walls, as usual, glorify the military victories of Florence. The images are very large and pathetic. Inspired, one can believe that she defeated everyone and everything. In reality, the Florentines successfully fought only with neighboring cities, and even then not always. However, a real artist will create a work of art out of insignificant victories.

Walk around the hall, look at the paintings and pay attention to the sculpture of Michelangelo "Genius trampling on brute force." We move on.

Leo X Apartment

Several halls, united under the name of Leo X's Apartment, are located next to the Hall of Five Hundred. These rooms are dedicated to the three members of the Medici family, who, in the main, laid the foundation for the wealth and power of this family. We are talking about Cosimo the Elder (not to be confused with Cosimo the First!), Lorenzo the Magnificent and Giovanni Medici (who became Pope named Leo X). The paintings in all the rooms of these apartments contain scenes from the life of each of them.

Cosimo the Elder was the first of the Medici to actually come to power. More precisely, the power at that time remained republican, however, a cunning banker with a lot of money and influential friends did not need to have a ducal title in order to pull the necessary strings and decide the policy of Florence. Cosimo lived rather modestly, worked hard, accumulated capital, borrowed from the powerful and acquired connections. The struggle for political influence in the republic was in full swing, and Cosimo had many difficult moments: he went to prison (by the way, he was sitting in the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio), and lived in exile, but in spite of everything, by the end of his life, the Medici family was the most powerful force in Florence. By the way, Cosimo was friends with Donatello and many other masters and generously sponsored art (as later all the Medici). Pay attention to the picture where Cosimo is surrounded by Donatello and Michelozzo, and Brunelleschi and Ghiberti show him a model of the church of San Lorenzo.

The next room is decorated with scenes from the life of Cosimo the Elder's grandson, Lorenzo the Magnificent. Being already the real head of the Florentine Republic, Lorenzo successfully continued the work of his grandfather. In his lifetime, there were also enough conspiracies and armed conflicts, but Lorenzo knew how to skillfully get out of the most difficult situations. So, when the Neapolitan king went to the Florentines with an army, and the allies refused to help the republic, Lorenzo himself, without an army, went to meet the enemy and negotiated so skillfully that Florence retained all its lands without even entering into battle with the enemy. This famous story is reflected in one of the paintings presented here.

Lorenzo's entourage was made up of the best scientists, poets and artists of his time, and the ruler himself wrote poetry and was engaged in science. It can be said without exaggeration that Lorenzo the Magnificent enjoyed the greatest popularity among the people of all the Medici who ruled before and after him.

The third large room covers events from the life of the son of Lorenzo the Magnificent - Giovanni. History remembers him not as Giovanni de Medici, but as Pope Leo X - www.win2 he was the first of the family who managed to get the papal tiara. Needless to say, how much this rise of Giovanni helped the Medici family: in those days, papal power opened up almost limitless possibilities. The pontificate of Leo X in many ways laid the foundation for the future, almost royal, power of the Medici in Tuscany.

Leo X is credited with the famous phrase: “The Lord has given us the papacy, so let us enjoy it!” Dad enjoyed it with might and main: he lived in a big way and did not think about the consequences. Some researchers generally believe that Leo X was one of the first atheists of his time. I will not delve too deeply into its history, I will give just one more interesting fact: it is considered proven that during the pontificates of Leo X and his successor (also from the Medici), many treasures and works of art migrated from the Vatican to Florence.

Apartments Stikhiy

Well, now, having become acquainted with the three pillars of the Medici family, let's go upstairs - to the apartments of their descendant, Cosimo the First.

These rooms (there are only 5 of them) got their name thanks to the frescoes, which allegorically depict the main elements - fire, earth and water. Cosimo I lived here before moving to Palazzo Pitti. He was a stern ruler who managed to restore order in the state after a long period of troubled times. Under him, Florence reached the peak of its power and influence. Actually, this legacy of Cosimo was then diligently squandered by his descendants for almost two centuries. Looking around these rooms, you can go out to the loggia and admire the wonderful view of the monastery of San Miniato al Monte.

And in the last room you can see the figure of a boy with a fish, a copy of which adorns the fountain in the courtyard of the palace.

Apartments Eleonora Toledskaya

Now we are moving into the rooms occupied by the wife of Cosimo the First - Eleanor. Apparently, the spouses lived in perfect harmony, Cosimo did not even cheat on his wife, which was extremely unusual for the ruler of that era. They say that the wife was the only person who had influence on Cosimo and whom he completely trusted.

Linger in the Green Hall - a lovely little chapel immediately attracts attention here (Eleanor was a zealous Catholic). The chapel is decorated with works by Bronzino, the most famous of which are the History of Moses (note his horns) and the Pieta in the chancel.

Then we pass through several thematic halls - the Hall of the Sabine Women, the Hall of Esther, the Hall of Penelope, etc. In each of them, the paintings illustrate the events of the corresponding myth. In the Penelope Hall, be sure to find Botticelli's Madonna and Child - as you can see, not all Renaissance masterpieces fit in the Uffizi Gallery.

Slowly, looking at the paintings and the decoration of the halls, we will soon move on to the Priorov Apartments. Here you can see the richly decorated Chapel of the Priors, as well as the death mask of Dante Alighieri. The great poet was also involved in politics and was elected prior in 1300-1301. But already in 1302 he had to flee from Florence forever (in the struggle between the black and white Guelphs, to which Dante belonged, the blacks won).

Well, now we are going to one of the most beautiful halls of the Palazzo Vecchio - the Audience Hall.

Audience Hall and Lily Hall

In the Audience Hall, Cosimo the First held working meetings, and this is one of the few places in the palace where the old "republican" interiors are partially preserved. Thus, on the large fresco of Ghirlandaio, we see, among others, Brutus, Cicero and other ardent republicans of the ancient Roman era.

The frescoes of the period of Cosimo the First, of course, no longer contain any republican allusions. A prominent place is occupied by the work of Salviati, representing scenes from the life of the Roman dictator Camillus. Apparently, this is a transparent allegory for the reign of Cosimo himself, made by his own order. Thus, the interiors of the Palazzo Vecchio give us a visual representation of the different stages in the development of the Florentine statehood.

While in the Audience Hall, don't pass by Donatello's most famous sculpture "Judith and Holofernes".

The master created it in 1457 by order of Cosimo the Elder and was so impressed with his own work that he signed it (he usually did not do this). First, "Judith" decorated the fountain in the first Medici family nest - the Medici-Ricardi Palazzo. After the family was expelled from Florence at the end of the 15th century, the palace was plundered, and “Judith” was put up in Piazza della Signoria, as if as an edification on the topic “what happens to tyrants”. When the Medici returned to power, in order not to anger the people, they decided to leave the sculpture in place - a sort of gesture of reconciliation. So she stood in the Piazza della Signoria, then in the Loggia of Lanzi, then again in the square. In the 1980s, the sculpture in front of the Palazzo Vecchio was replaced with a copy, and the original has been on display in the Audience Hall ever since. From the Audience Hall we get to the Lily Hall - once these halls were one room, the partition appeared later. Pay attention to the door with the image of Dante and the lily on the ceiling - the coat of arms of the French family of Anjou, who helped the Guelphs defeat the Ghibellines. From here a small corridor leads to the Hall of Geographical Maps of the Middle Ages. It was interesting for me to consider them - there was even a map of "Karelia and Northern Russia".

After the audience hall, we pass the so-called Old Chancellery - the last few halls of the museum. A variety of exhibits are exhibited here without any special system - paintings, sculptures, pieces of furniture from different times, etc. Appreciate the panoramic view of medieval Florence - similar maps, by the way, are actively sold in the city as souvenirs.

I also lingered near the image of Niccolo Machiavelli, another famous Florentine. During the years of the Medici exile, he supported Savonarola and held important government posts in the republic. The return of the Medici did not seem to bode well for Machiavelli, but the disgrace was short-lived. Subsequently, the Medici even resorted to his advice on some state issues. True, Machiavelli no longer held high posts, being content with the position of a historiographer. And world fame brought him the book "The Sovereign", popular to this day, in which Machiavelli outlined his vision of the best way to govern the state.

This concludes our inspection of the halls of the Palazzo Vecchio, however, if you still have the strength, I invite you to climb the tower of the palace.

Roof and Tower of the Palazzo Vecchio

As I already said, a visit to the Tower should be planned, focusing on the weather - during the rain, visitors are not allowed there. If you are lucky with the weather, then having bought a ticket, find a wide staircase in the lobby of the palace, near which there is a sign with the inscription “Tower And Battlements”. Climb up, and after a few floors you will find yourself near a smaller staircase that leads to the roof. Here your ticket will be checked and you may be asked to wait a bit. People are allowed on the roof in small groups and it seems that they keep a record of visitors: there are probably certain restrictions on the weight that the roof is guaranteed to withstand, or they are simply trying to avoid pandemonium.

When they let you through, go up the narrow stairs, and now you are already on the roof. In Florence, wonderful views open up from everywhere, and there are enough observation platforms, but the roof and tower of the Palazzo Vecchio turned out to be unrivaled for me in this regard.

From here you can see literally every historical building or church, and below you have a stunning view of Piazza della Signoria.

After walking along the roof, we rise up to the Tower. The climb here is not as difficult as on the dome of the Duomo or Giotto's Campanile, and there are much fewer people. They are not always allowed to the very top, but you will not be disappointed either - these views of Florence will forever remain in your memory.

When descending, look into a small room in one of the bays of the tower. It probably once served as a guardroom, and maybe a cell. Let me remind you that for many years the Tower of the Palazzo Vecchio was a prison in which, for example, people like Cosimo the Elder and Savonarola were imprisoned.

Having considered everything interesting, go down - today the cultural program has been more than completed.

How to get to Palazzo Vecchio

The map below will help us navigate the surroundings of the palace.

Palazzo Vecchio (1) is located on one of the main squares of Florence - piazza della Signoria (2). If you live in the central part of the city, I strongly recommend that you move on foot: everything is within walking distance and it will take you 10-15 minutes to walk, for example, from Santa Maria Novella station to Piazza della Signoria. You can, of course, get here by bus: the nearest stop of route C2 (3) is located near the square.

Piazza della Signoria itself is an open-air museum, so there are many interesting things waiting for you in the vicinity of Palazzo Vecchio. Go to the Loggia of Lanzi (4), as long as they let you in for free. Admire the sculptures, especially, of course, Cellini's Perseus with the Head of Medusa.

Look at all the monuments in the square. With "David" by Michelangelo (5) everyone is photographed only here: in the museum where the original stands, photography is prohibited. They say that once during another uprising during a heated debate, a sofa fell out of the window of the Palazzo Vecchio and chopped off David's hand. It seems that even after its restoration, the seams remained, and they can be seen.

Pay attention to the fountain of Neptune (6). When it was opened in 1565, the crowd laughed at the architect Ammanati: “What a beautiful marble you ruined!”, And today it is already difficult to imagine the square without this fountain.

Not far from the fountain stands the equestrian monument of Cosimo I (7), with whom so much is associated in the Palazzo Vecchio.

You can walk around the palace: from the side of via dei Leoni (8), at the back of the Palazzo Vecchio, in the Middle Ages there was a lion nursery. And from the side of via della Ninna (9) you can see the door through which one unfortunate ruler fled from the palace during the 1342 riot.

Well, it is impossible not to mention that literally 20 meters from the Palazzo Vecchio is one of the main museums in the world - the Uffizi Gallery (10), and behind it - the Arno embankment and the oldest bridge in Europe - Ponte Vecchio (11). Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

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