Address: Piazza Signoria
The
oldest part of
Palazzo Vecchio may be the work of Arnolfo di
Cambio (1245-1302) and was built at the turn of the thirteenth
and fourteenth century as the seat of the Priors. Successive
additions of the fifteenth and above all of the sixteenth
centuries have changed the scale of the rear of the palace
without however modifying the massive appearance of the huge
blocks, projecting gallery and assymmetrical tower dominating
Piazza Signoria.
Initially the seat of Signoria, temporarily housed the Grand
Ducal family under Cosimo I de' Medici before their transfer to
Palazzo Pitti. It was in this
period (1550-65) that Vasari transformed it, sumptuously
redecorating the newly reconstructed interiors for the palace's
role both as the seat of government and official residence of the
ruling family. The entire palace is a museum, especially the
so-called "Monumental Quarters".
Let us take the most important interiors in order, starting with
the first entrance courtyard with its white and gold stuccoes and
sixteenth century frescoes over an elegant structure of the
second half of the fifteenth century. One then arrives
immediately in the old Armoury, where the Town Council of
Florence organizes frequent exhibitions. On the first floor is
the grandiose Salone dei Cinquecento, the work of Cronaca (1495)
which
held the
assemblies of the General Council of the People under the State
reforms brought about by Savonarola. The walls of this room
should have been frescoed by Michelangelo and Leonardo; the
actual appearance of the interior is the work of Vasari and his
pupils and dates from the second half of the sixteenth century.
The panelled ceiling and wall frescoes, the "Udienza"
(the raised section of the room with statues by Bandinelli and
Caccini) and the sculptures of De' Rossi showing the Deeds of
Hercules, all belong to the complex symbolism and precise
historical references glorifying the Medici. Also in the Salone
is Michelangelo's Genius of Victory.
In contrast to the grandiose Salone, but equally sumptuous, is
the little Studiolo of Francesco I, a jewel of Mannerist art and
sensibility to which the prince would retire to gaze at his
treasures. This dates from around 1570. Each one of the rooms on
the first floor is dedicated to a personality of the Medici
family such
as Cosimo the Elder, Lorenzo, Leo X and so on, and is
appropriately frescoed. On the second floor is the Apartment of
the Elements and the Apartment of Eleonora of Toledo, wife of
Cosimo I. Even amid its rich decorations, the little chapel of
Eleonora of Toledo is outstanding with its magnificent frescoes
by Bronzino (1503-1572). This is followed by the great public
rooms, the Audience Chamber and the Lily Chamber, with rich
ceilings, decorations and doors of the fifteenth century.
Throughout the palace art and history blend to remind one
constantly of its former glories.
In the final area of the monumental quarters is the setting for
the "Loeser Collection" left to the Florentine Town
Council by the American art critic Charles Loeser on his death in
1928.
This comprises painting and sculpture mainly of the Tuscan school
and ranging from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century to
include works by Tino da Camaino, Berruguete, Rustici, Bronzino
and Cellini.
