The palace boasts 140 rooms, divided into galleries and museums. Inside, you'll discover a treasure trove of old luxury —from lavish chandeliers to plush furnishings and intricate frescoes on the ceilings. Wander through meticulously preserved or recreated rooms, guided by signs explaining Napoleon's changes and historical settings. Don't miss the stunning gold-framed paintings, making every corner a visual delight.
Location: Left wing of the first floor, Pitti Palace.
Highlights: Over 500 Renaissance and Baroque paintings, including works by Raphael, Titian, Rubens, Pietro da Cortona, and Correggio.
The main gallery of the Palazzo Pitti, featuring the Medici family's private collection of primarily Renaissance paintings.
Location: Left wing of the first floor, Pitti Palace.
Highlights: A suite of 14 rooms furnished from the Medici era, featuring antique furniture, Medici portraits, and beautiful collectibles.
The apartments where the Medici family lived, showcasing the grandeur of their lifestyle with antique furniture and Medici portraits.
Location: Ground floor, Pitti Palace.
Highlights: Rooms originally used as the Medici family's summer apartments, featuring semi-precious stone vases, ambers, ivories, and rock crystals.
A museum showcasing the Medici family's treasure, including semi-precious stone vases, ambers, ivories, and rock crystals.
Location: Second floor, Pitti Palace.
Highlights: A collection of paintings and sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries, featuring works by Italian artists like Giovanni Fattori.
A gallery featuring a fabulous collection of paintings and sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries, with a focus on Italian artists.
Location: Palazzina della Meridiana, adjacent to the Pitti Palace's southern wing.
Highlights: A collection of costumes and fashion from the 18th to the 20th centuries, including contemporary jewelry and historical pieces.
A museum dedicated to the history and evolution of fashion, showcasing costumes and accessories from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
The heavy rusticated stonework of Pitti Palace adds to its majestic allure, featuring large blocks of rough stone with straight edges, gradually becoming more elegant as they ascend, reflecting Luca Pitti's wealth.
The central courtyard hosted lavish celebrations like the naumachia, a mock naval battle held during Ferdinando I de Medici's wedding, where 18 ships filled the courtyard with water.
The Vasari Corridor, connecting Palazzo Pitti to Palazzo Vecchio, served as a secret passage for the dukes, now accessible for guided tours showcasing portraits and ancient sculptures.
Appreciate the palace's historical decorations, from the Renaissance-era frescoes by Bernardino Poccetti to later Neo-classical and Rococo-style embellishments, reflecting centuries of artistic evolution.
Learn about the recent recovery of a painting stolen by Nazis during WWII, now on display with its intriguing story. Marvel at the sheer number of gold-framed paintings adorning each room, contributing to the palace's appeal.
Don't overlook the smaller exhibits within the palace, featuring modern sculptures and jewelry. Explore these hidden gems, set apart from the main museum space, and appreciate their beauty amidst the grandeur of the Pitti Palace.
The architectural style of the Pitti Palace's interior is primarily Renaissance with late Mannerist and Baroque influences. The palace's exterior is characterized by its colossal stories, which are twice the height of the stories of the Palazzo Medici, and its arches of a form known as the "Florentine arch," which is distinguished by taller voussoirs at the top. The palace is rusticated on all three stories using huge multi-tone blocks, which were meant to express its owner's financial power.
Over the centuries, the palace underwent extensive decoration and embellishment, resulting in luxe interiors with grandiose frescoes, intricate stucco work, and elaborate architectural details. Artists from various regions contributed to the decoration, creating spatial illusionism and expanding the apparent size of the rooms. Elements of Rococo and Neo-classical styles can also be observed in some areas, adding to the palace's diverse architectural character.
The Palazzo Pitti is one of the largest palaces in Florence, situated onthe slopes ofthe Boboli Hill, south of then Arno River. The total area is 32,000 sqm.
Palazzo Pitti houses several galleries, including the Palatine Gallery, the Imperial and Royal Apartments, the Treasury of the Grand Dukes, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Museum of Costume and Fashion, the Porcelain Museum, and the Silver Museum. Each gallery offers a unique collection, showcasing different aspects of art, history, and culture.
The Palazzo Pitti interior features a classic Renaissance style with strong horizontal lines, grand courtyards, and elaborate decorations that reflect the opulence of its former residents.
The interior design of the Palazzo Pitti was orchestrated by a multitude of architects and artists over several centuries, reflecting various architectural styles prevalent during different periods of its history. However, one prominent figure in its interior design was Giorgio Vasari, an Italian architect, painter, and historian of the Renaissance period. He contributed to the transformation and decoration of several rooms within the palace, leaving a lasting impact on its overall aesthetic.
The interior of the Palazzo Pitti showcases the wealth and power of its former residents through its lavish furnishings, intricate decorations, and extensive art collections, symbolizing the grandeur of the Medici family and other noble occupants.
The frescoes and decorations in the Palazzo Pitti's rooms, ceilings, and walls symbolize the wealth, power, and refined tastes of its former residents, notably the Medici family.
Lavish frescoes, stucco moldings, and intricate decorations showcase Renaissance and Baroque opulence. These embellishments elevate the palace's cultural prestige and dynastic authority, impressing visitors and dignitaries. Depicting allegorical themes and historical events, the art narrates dynastic power, cultural refinement, and political influence in Florentine history.
The interior of Palazzo Pitti has transformed over centuries, reflecting the tastes of its various owners.
Palazzo Pitti generally requires a ticket for entry, although there may be certain days or times when admission is free for example on Sundays. Entry is also free for a certain group of visitors like children under 18 years, visitors with disabilities, scholars, students, teachers, tour guides, interpreters, journalists, ministry employees, ICOM members, and pregnant women. Do remember to carry a valid ID and document if you're availing the free entry.
No, access to all the areas within Palazzo Pitti is included in your ticket.
Palazzo Pitti often hosts temporary exhibitions alongside its permanent collections. These exhibitions may focus on various themes, artists, or periods in art history. Additionally, special events such as concerts, lectures, and workshops may take place within the palace grounds. You can check beforehand for specifics.
Palazzo Pitti houses an extensive collection of artworks, including paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and historical artifacts. The collection includes costumes, jewelry, tableware, and carriages from the bygone era, all displayed in specific galleries and designated spaces within the museum complex. The Palatine Gallery alone boasts over 500 Renaissance paintings, and while there is no definitive number, the collection is extensive enough to keep visitors engaged for hours.
Begin your exploration of Pitti Palace on the ground floor with a visit to the Palatine Chapel. Then, head up to the first floor for the Galleria Palatina, home to over 500 Renaissance treasures by famous artists like Raphael and Caravaggio. Don't miss the lavish Royal Apartments showcasing the Medici family's luxurious lifestyle.
On the second floor, explore the Gallery of Modern Art for art from the 18th and 19th centuries. Check out the Costume Gallery for a peek into evolution of fashion. If you have time, browse other museums like the Silver and Carriages Museum. Conclude your tour with a leisurely stroll through the picturesque Boboli Gardens.
Photography is generally allowed in Palazzo Pitti, but with some restrictions. Photos and videos are prohibited inside the palace, with the exception of the Boboli Gardens, where photography without flash is permitted.
