PALATINE GALLERY TOUR – FLORENCE

Starting from the sumptuous and rich rooms and its private apartments, the “Palatine Gallery” occupies an entire floor of “Palazzo Pitti”, the residence of the Dukes of Tuscany from the “Medici Family” to the last King of Italy.

The “Palatine Gallery”, located on the left side of “Palazzo Pitti”, was built between the end of 18th and the beginning of the 19th century by “the Lorraines”, who decorated it with important masterpieces coming mainly from the collections of the “Medici Family”. This extraordinary collection includes works by “Raffaello, Tiziano, Caravaggio, Rubens, Pietro da Cortona” and other famous Italian and European Renaissance artists.

After the majestic “Ammannati staircase”, we arrive at the rooms that were mostly used by the “Medici Family”, both for the private residence and for public audiences. The exhibition itinerary begins in the vestibule and continues with some rooms dedicated to sculpture with the interesting  busts of the grand dukes from “Medici Family”, especially of “Cosimo I” portrayed as a Roman emperor, and to antique furniture, such as the “Staffieri room”, “the Gallery of Statues” and the room of “the Castagnoli”, beyond which the actual gallery begins on the left. The following rooms take their name from the theme of the frescoes that decorate them on the vaults. The cycle is dedicated to “Greco-Roman mythology”, but also celebrates the “Medici family dynasty” according to a precise and articulated symbolic system. In particular, the mythological subjects represent examples that allude to the theme of the Prince’s life and education, and represent a fundamental work of the Baroque in Florence, which produced a profound influence on local artists from the seventeenth century onwards. The frescoes in the first five rooms were made by the most famous painter of the time, “Pietro da Cortona”, while the other rooms are the work of neoclassical artists of the first half of the nineteenth century..

The  Palatine Gallery tour proceeds towards “Ponte Vecchio” entirely occupied by shops of gold and jewelry. Then, you will reach “Palazzo Vecchio”, the seat of political power, and “Piazza Della Signoria”, the heart of Florence, built on top of the ruins of 13th century houses.

Enjoy our   Palatine Gallery tour