2-Hour Palazzo Vecchio Tour in Florence with Medici Apartments

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Visit the private apartments of the Medici family
• 02 Ascend to the hall's terrace for a breathtaking view of the city
• 03 Explore the chambers, including the stunning Hall of the Five Hundred
• 04 Discover Palazzo Vecchio's 13th-century heritage and political legacy

Explore Palazzo Vecchio and discover the rich heritage of this historic Florentine landmark, whose origins date back to the 13th century. Admire its stunning architectural details, from the grand staircase to the beautiful frescoes that adorn the walls, and step into the grand council chambers that once served as the seat of political power in the city. This tour offers a deeper appreciation of the building's remarkable history and Florence's enduring cultural legacy.

Start the tour at the breathtaking Salone dei Cinquecento, a hall originally built at the end of the 1400s and fully decorated under Cosimo I.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Not included

City Florence

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Palazzo Vecchio Highlights Tour

• Start the tour at the breathtaking Salone dei Cinquecento, a hall originally built at the end of the 1400s and fully decorated under Cosimo I.
• Continue to the Quartiere di Leone X, with rooms dedicated to members of the Medici family, the "Gods on Earth".
• Head to the Quartiere degli Elementi, whose rooms are dedicated to figures from Greek mythology, the "Gods of Heaven".
• Visit the Quartiere di Eleonora di Toledo, the apartment of Cosimo's wife, Eleonora di Toledo.
• Move on to the Cappella dei Priori, the chapel of the Priors.
• Explore the Sala delle Udienze, the palace courtroom.
• See the Sala dei Gigli, where you will admire Donatello's masterpiece, Giuditta e Oloferne.
• Lastly, visit the Sala delle carte geografiche, the room of maps.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• English-speaking tour guide

Know before you go

• A tour of the life of Palazzo Vecchio from its origins to the present day.
• The leading landmark in Piazza della Signoria is Florence's Town Hall, better known as Palazzo Vecchio.
• It was much smaller when its oldest section was built at the end of the 1200s and the beginning of the 1300s. This oldest part of the palace is the one that "looks like a fortress". There is a reason why the first patrons of the palace needed a building that served as both an administrative center and a fortress.
• The architect of the oldest part of the palace was Arnolfo di Cambio. He was also the first architect of the Duomo.
• Who sponsored the palace at the end of the 1200s?
  • Many new sections were added to the original palace over the centuries.
  • The most significant works were carried out during the administration of Cosimo I de' Medici in the 16th century, when he governed the city from here.
  • The visit inside the palace focuses on the "new rooms" built and decorated during the 16th century, as well as the older rooms that were re-decorated during the same period.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy

Tour start

Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.