On September 18, my whole Italian life and culture class toured Palazzo Vecchio, one of two palaces in Florence. Located in Piazza della Signoria, the palace was a short 12- to 15-minute walk from my apartment. Palazzo Vecchio currently houses Florence’s city hall and museum. It originally was the Republic’s government building before the Medici family made it their residence in the 1400s.
Palazzo Vecchio, which translates to “Old Palace,” is one of two palaces in Florence, with the other one being Palazzo Pitti, or “New Palace.” Our tour began in the morning, and it was led by the brilliant Dr. Franz, who knows his Italian history and art history. Dr. Franz, a professor who is part of the AIFS staff, played a key role in leading our class through the majority of our tours in Florence. He told use interesting stories of the events that have taken place in Palazzo Vecchio and the impact of the Medici family during the Renaissance.
During our guided tour, I saw tons of beautiful art and huge paintings of huge battles in great detail and murals and carvings on high ceilings. Not one inch of a room was wasted. Palazzo Vecchio is a beautiful work of art from start to finish. Inside the museum are artifacts, treasures and relics of the Saints that are kept in very beautiful and ornate reliquaries.
When moving further into the museum, visitors can take beautiful pictures of the city from the terraces. Inside the museum, you will see lots of Renaissance art. The Medici family helped kick start the Renaissance as art patrons.
The tour around Palazzo Vecchio can be a bit challenging because of the stairs, and there is little to no air conditioning during the summer and heating in the winter. I recommend going to visit Palazzo Vecchio during the spring and the fall when the weather is the most moderate and with the least amount of tourist. During the summer and even into October, there are lots of tourists from all over the world that visit Florence, and it can get crowded in Palazzo Vecchio during that time of year.
Would you consider visiting Palazzo Vecchio and being part of a guided tour?
