Visiting the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence

When visiting Florence it is a unique opportunity to admire the monuments and masterpieces of great priceless beauty. One of the most significant of Florence not only for its artistic value, but also for the historical and political role it played, is the Palazzo Vecchio. Still the political center where you decide the fate of the city. L 'architecture of Palazzo Vecchio with battlements and the tower is inspired by the civic buildings of three hundred Italians. In the fifteenth century, the beginning of the Renaissance, the seat becomes of the Signoria and later the residence of Duke Cosimo I de' Medici, until the Medici dynasty moved into the new residence of Palazzo Pitti, at which the palace takes its current name of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Today as yesterday, this palace is the political center of Florence, the town hall and the mayor's office. In addition to this part of the Palazzo Vecchio, is also used in large, part to the museum where you can admire the magnificent rooms, which exhibits valuable works of great historical and artistic value. The tour to this part of the palace courtyard of Michelozzo, is accessed from the front door instead of Piazza della Signoria. The charming porch of the courtyard is embellished with decorations in whose lunettes are represented the insignia of churches and guild city.

Continuing to get to the famous Salone dei Cinquecento, a hall with respectable sizes, thanks to which is often used for important public meetings and conferences. On the walls of the living room you can admire great frescoes depicting the victorious battles of Florence against Pisa and Siena. Even the ceiling is of great artistic value, with panels painted by Vasari and his students, who represent the most important episodes in the life of Cosimo I de 'Medici. In the central niche placed in the south of the living room is placed marble work of the great Michelangelo representing the Victory.

On the first floor there are rooms known as the "Monumental Quarters" for the abundance of decorations dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of the Medici family. The most important of these rooms is the Hall of Leo X, the Pope of the Roman Church, the son of Lorenzo the Magnificent. On the walls are painted degrees scenes depicting Pope Leo X in the most significant moments of his pontificate.

On the second floor there is the Quarter of the Elements, consisting of five rooms and two galleries, continuing to the Quarters of Eleonora, wife of Cosimo de Medici designed by Vasari, this space consists of various room that was the place where Eleanor held on to the private life surrounded by artistic and architectural works of great value such as the Chapel of Eleonora frescoed by Agnolo Bronzino.

Next to this there is the Hall of Justice, the roof of which is laminated with pure gold, this was used as a meeting place of the six priors, the timing of their government. Here we find the Sala dei Gigli celebrating the emblem of the French crown in this room there is a famous painting biblical made by Donatello.

Continuing in the Hall of Geographical Maps, in this place the members of the Medici family guarded the precious furniture which is finely decorated. The name of the room comes from the representation of 53 maps of scientific interest that make the idea of geographical knowledge of the sixteenth century, these oil paintings were made on the shelves of large cabinets, made by the Dominican friar Ignazio Danti and Stefano Buonsignori.

Between the first and the second floor there is a mezzanine, a space created by Michelozzo in 1453. Here are a series of rooms in which today houses the Loeser Collection donated to the City of Florence from the great American art critic Charles Loeser.

Palazzo Vecchio is also the Museum of the boys, consisting of two small theaters and a multimedia room. This route gives the opportunity to see the life of the building to the Renaissance in an alternative and enjoyable way.