Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. Photo Palazzo Vecchio Italy. Secrets of the Old Palace: Palazzo Vecchio in Florence Palazzo Vecchio on the map of Florence
Previous photo Next photo
The former Palace of the Signoria, now named Palazzo Vecchio, is probably the most luxurious building in Florence. Built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, the palace is an architectural gem in itself, and coupled with its breathtaking interiors, literally crammed with masterpieces of painting and sculpture, it is a must-see point in the Florentine excursion program. Three courtyards, a central 52-meter Cinquecento hall with frescoes from the 16th century, the Signoria Chapel and the Dressing Room are far from full list the breathtaking halls of the palazzo.
A little history
Palazzo Vecchio was erected in 1299 and was originally the seat of government in Florence. At the beginning of its history it was called New, then changed its name to the Palace of the Signoria (in the 15th century the rulers of the commune declared themselves “signori”), and in the 16th century it acquired the name Palazzo Ducale - then the Tuscan Duke Cosimo de’ Medici moved here. At the same time, the building was reconstructed in accordance with the needs of the new owner, and the current appearance of the palace dates back to the end of the 16th century. Well, with the Medici moving to a new palace (Palazzo Pitti), Palazzo Ducale began to be called Palazzo Vecchio (“old”) and was used to store family jewelry and ceremonial costumes. In 1871, the Palazzo Vecchio regained its original function - it again began to serve as the seat of the Florence city administration.
What to see
Acquaintance with the Palazzo Vecchio invariably begins from the main entrance. Here, the massive marble frontispiece from the early 16th century immediately attracts attention: between the two lions there is a monogram of Jesus Christ and a laudatory inscription in Latin. And to the right and left of the entrance there are two famous sculptures: “David” by Michelangelo and “Hercules and Cacus” by Bandinelli (make no mistake: “David” is a copy, the original can be seen in the Academy Gallery).
The three courtyards of the Palazzo are so luxurious that you inevitably wonder: could the interiors be even more brilliant... Here you can see statues of Verrocchio and frescoes by Vasari, and the water flowing from the nose of the dolphin fountain is delivered here all the way from the Boboli Gardens!
The Cinquecento Hall is the central ceremonial room of the palace; A massive staircase by Vasari leads to it, of amazing beauty. Its dimensions are 52 by 23 meters, on the walls you can see monumental frescoes depicting the victories of Florence over Pisa and Siena, and 39 ceiling panels are painted based on the life events of Cosimo de' Medici. The niches contain numerous sculptures, the most significant of which is Michelangelo's "Genius of Victory". And in the studiolo (small office) of the Medici you can see baroque wall panels with paintings, hiding cabinets behind them.
On the second floor of the Palazzo Vecchio, you should definitely visit the Hall of the Elements with frescoes depicting water, fire, earth, etc., the Terrace of Saturn, from which beautiful view to the historical center of Florence, the Hall of Hercules, the House of the Lions, where the elder Cosimo actually kept predators, having fun baiting animals, the Dining Room and Eleanor's Boudoir.
In the Chapel of the Signoria, attention is drawn to the azure ceiling with gold facets and French royal lilies, numerous frescoes on biblical themes, as well as the original statue of “Judith and Holofernes” by Donatello. And in the Dressing Room, the ancient giant mappa mundi globe and 53 geographic Maps 16th century.
Address and opening hours
Address: Piazza Signoria 1
Opening hours: Friday - Wednesday: 09:00 - 19:00, Thursday: 09:00 - 14:00.
Prices on the page are as of September 2018.
I approached the Pitti Palace. Facing the façade with a rusticated design of huge blocks betrays claims to power and grandeur. why this palace was built.. Cosimo the Elder was the first to approve the use of stylistic elements of public buildings in the construction of his personal palace in 1444, now known as Medici-Riccardi. The Pitti family, which competed with the Medici, did not want to give in, but they did not have enough funds to complete the construction.
In revenge, albeit belatedly, Casimo I's wife, Eleonora of Toledo, acquired the palace in 1549. In 1558, work began to expand the building under the leadership of Ammannati and then his students. This is how one of the most grandiose palaces arose with a facade 205 meters long and 36 meters high.
I bought a ticket for 10 euros - with it I could get into the part of the palace where the costume gallery, porcelain museum + Boboli garden were located, and went inside.
Photography is not allowed, but I was still able to take a few photos.
After touring the palace and museums, I went out into the courtyard of the palace, where there are sculptures in the covered arches.
There is a fountain in one of the arches.
Below in the photo you can see the main entrance to the Pitti Palace.
This garden is one of the best park ensembles Italian Renaissance, covering an area of 45 thousand meters, extending to Fort Belvedere. Since 1766 the gardens have been open to the general public. The garden was commissioned by Casimo1 by the architect Nicolo Tribolo in the 16th century.
In the photo below is the Neptune Fountain
Fountain of Neptune and view of the Pitti Palace from the Boboli Garden.
Neptune Fountain
Pitti Palace.
Egyptian obelisk in the Amphitheater, where the very first opera performances in the world were staged at the end of the 16th century.
Pictured is the Big Grotto.
In the photo below is the dwarf Morgante on the back of a turtle, the court jester of Casimo 1.
I left the Pitti Palace and found myself in Pitti Square. (below photo)
Around 19:00 I decided to go to the Palace (Palazzo) Vecchio, now a museum. The merchants and bankers who came to power in 1293 commissioned Arnolfo di Cambio to build a representative residence in 1298. Palazzo Vecchio was built in gothic style. Rustic cladding evokes a feeling of power. The project included clear forms: in plan it is a rectangle, thin cornices along the facade visually divide it into three blocks. The gallery topped with battlements is repeated on the 94-meter-high tower, complementing the impression of majestic simplicity. In 1667, a clock was installed on the tower, which is still running.
I bought a ticket for 10 euros and entered through main entrance(photo below)
We immediately find ourselves in a charming courtyard, designed by Michelozzo in 1453 in the early Renaissance style.
First, I climbed up the tower itself using these stairs
From the top there was an excellent view of the whole of Florence.
The Cathedral of Santa Croce is visible in the distance.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Friore.
Piazza della Signoria.
And here is the tower itself at the top of which I was.
Auedinenz hall with an image with the coat of arms of Florence on a golden coffered ceiling.
Photography is allowed.
The palace contains works by Giorgio Vasari, the Maiano brothers, and Donatello.
Below in the photo is the Hall of the Five Hundred, intended for the Great Council of the People, after the second expulsion of the Medici in 1494 from Florence. The work of decorating the hall was led by Vasari and his students.
Having examined the palace, I left it to Piazza della Signoria, where dusk was falling.
Tomorrow I will continue exploring Florence........
August 23rd, 2013After looking around Piazza della Signoria, we enter Palazzo Vecchio.
The interior opens up to a lovely courtyard, in the middle of which there is a fountain surrounded by orange trees. It was created by Michelozzo in 1453. More than a hundred years later, in 1565, Giorgio Vasari, court architect of Cosimo I, painted its walls with paintings of views Austrian cities Vienna, Linz and Graz in honor of the marriage of the son of Cosimo I - Francesco I de' Medici with Joanna of Austria, daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor. 
In general, the interiors of the Palazzo Vecchio are associated with the name of Giorgio Vasari a little more than completely, since it was to him that Cosimo I entrusted the reconstruction of the medieval palace for his needs. This restructuring, as in the case of Cellini's Perseus, pursued the goal of glorifying ducal power and destroying reminders of the period of the republic. Thus, under the leadership of Vasari, the decor of the “Salon of Five Hundred” was redone - the most significant hall measuring 52 by 23 meters, which was built in 1494 after the expulsion of the Medici and during the restoration of republican institutions, and was intended for meetings of the Great People's Council, consisting of five hundred members. The huge and ceremonial hall under Cosimo I served for meetings of his court, receptions and court. In the middle of the 19th century, when Florence was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, parliamentarians met here.
During the reconstruction of the wall paintings, Vasari destroyed the unfinished frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci “The Battle of Anghiari”... (This is a copy from cardboard of a fresco by Rubens)
... and Michelangelo's "Battle of Cascina". Preserved cardboard (blank) of the fresco.
The walls and ceiling of the hall were painted with frescoes glorifying the deeds of Cosimo I, in particular the victories of Florence over Pisa and Siena.
The ceiling of the hall, consisting of 39 panels, is dedicated to the glorious events of the life of the patron,…
...including a central panel reflecting his triumph as Grand Duke of Florence and Tuscany.
The hall is also filled with sculptures. In the niches were installed monumental statues of popes from the Medici family, who played a key role in the governance of Florence in the first half of the 16th century, by the court sculptor Cosimo I Baccio Bandinelli. Pope Leo H.
Pope Clement VII is depicted at the moment of one of the most important events in the history of his pontificate - the coronation of Emperor Charles V, who had to destroy half of Italy, including Rome))
Along the walls of the hall there are sculptures glorifying the exploits of Hercules by Vincenzo de'Rossi, this is a continuation of the theme started by another Hercules in Piazza della Signoria. It seems that the theme of Hercules was the most popular during the reign of Cosimo I, from Hercules defeating yet another evil spirit there is really nowhere to go))
There is also Michelangelo’s sculpture “The Spirit of Victory”, created by the master in 1533-34. originally for the grandiose tomb of Pope Julius II, who had the nickname "Papa the Warrior"
Adjacent to the hall is a richly decorated small room - Studiolo (that is, “small studio”) of Cosimo I’s son Francesco I, which served as his office, laboratory and even a cabinet of curiosities. It was created under the direction of Vasari and is considered a masterpiece of mannerism.
The first floor is occupied by a whole gallery of halls dedicated to the glorious ancestors of Cosimo I of the Medici family, in each of which their portraits and glorious deeds are immortalized. There are halls of Popes Leo X and Clement VII, Cosimo the Elder, Giovanni del Bande Nere and, of course, Lorenzo the Magnificent. This fresco by Vasari, in which Lorenzo receives the ambassadors, is reproduced on the ceiling of the hall of the same name. It may be noted that the image of Lorenzo here is identical to his famous portrait kept in the Uffizi.
The second floor, which housed the personal chambers of the Duke and Duchess, opens into the Hall of Elements, dedicated to themes of ancient mythology. Here is “The Castration of Uranus by Kronos”, also by Vasari and Gerardi Christofano...
...and the mannerist Birth of Venus
We were impressed by the Saturn terrace on the top floor at the back of the palace - the Loggetta - with an amazing view of the city, which partially compensated us for not climbing the Duomo. View towards Santa Croce...
... and to the other side of the river.
The chapel in the chambers of Cosimo I's wife Eleonora of Toledo is painted with frescoes by Agnolo Bronzino.
Two study halls of the palace that have preserved elements of Renaissance decor - the Audience Hall and the Hall of Lilies. In the Audience Room there is a magnificent gold-plated ceiling depicting the coat of arms of Florence by Giuliano da Maiano, created under Lorenzo the Magnificent.
The hall itself was painted in the mid-16th century in the traditions of the Roman school of followers of Raphael and looks pompous.
It feels like in Florence the dome of the Duomo is visible from almost everywhere. Against the background of the right sash of the window, I want to sit some Renaissance beauty - and the portrait is ready.
But the most remarkable thing in this room is the wall painted by Domenico Ghirlandaio “The Apotheosis of St. Zenobius,” the first patron of Florence, with the saints and heroes of ancient Rome.
The original of Donatello’s work “Judith and Holofernes” is also placed there, a copy of which now adorns the Piazza della Signoria.
From the Lily Hall you can get to another “business” room - the World Maps Hall. There is a globe from 1581, which at the time of its creation was the largest in the world.
On the walls are 53 maps made by the Dominican monk Ignatio Danti, giving an idea of the geographical knowledge of the second half of the 16th century.
I can’t say that the palace was shocked. Of course, everything is very beautiful and epic, but apparently a certain overflow of beauty has already accumulated and emotions arose only for masterpieces. I would advise watching it with a fresh mind.
Meanwhile, we will take another look at the opposite bank of the Arno...
And let's go there...
Continuation - .
All posts about Italy - .
22,041 views
The ancient palace, called Palazzo Vecchio, was given to the residents of Florence by one of the most prolific Italian architects of the 13th century, Arnolfo di Cambio. Palazzo Vecchio is the main decoration of Piazza della Signoria. The building is designed in the form of a medieval Romanesque fort. A special accent is given by the clock tower, rising above the main building. The monumental palace of Palazzo Vecchio is not just one of the buildings, but an important symbol of the city and its political life.
Interesting fact Since its inception, the town hall has changed several names. 
Nowadays, the halls of the town hall are filled with museum exhibits and are open to visitors. However, the city authorities of Florence are still based in the Palazzo Vecchio, continuing ancient tradition their predecessors.
Story
The appearance of the Palazzo Vecchio was preceded by turbulent processes in the political life of the country and the city. The leadership of the Florentine commune at the end of the 13th century decided to get a new residence. With these goals in mind, construction work began on the territory previously owned by the powerful Uberti family. To begin with, the workers dismantled the ruins of the ancestral castle of the defeated aristocrats. And in 1299 they began work on a new building under the leadership of the eminent artist and architect Arnolfo di Cambio.
The famous master by this time had already gained wide fame as the creator of such masterpieces as the Church of Santa Croce and the Florentine Cathedral. Mine new project Arnolfo saw how powerful and reliable the structure was. It was possible to somewhat soften the harsh silhouette of the fortress with the help of elements of external decor and a slender clock tower. Thus, the Palazzo Vecchio symbolizes strength and steadfastness, organically combined with external beauty.
In the middle of the 15th century, the Old Palace became the site of very dramatic events. A conspiracy was uncovered, the purpose of which was to overthrow the Medici family from the leadership position of the Florentine Republic. The leader of the conspiracy, Francesco Pazzi, paid for his actions with his life. As a warning, the conspirator was hanged in the central window of the town hall. Just one year later, in 1479, the same fate befell Bernardo di Bondino, who became the executioner of Giuliano de' Medici.
Exterior decoration of the Old Palace
If you look at the palace from above, then schematically it will look like a rectangle. Here the architect did not resort to unnecessary refinements. The appearance of the building looks very laconic. The Town Hall is divided into three horizontal tiers. The lower tier, as befits a fortification building, is devoid of any intricate decorations. But in the second tier you can admire the beautiful windows. According to the Gothic canons, they have trefoil-shaped arches, which were subsequently decorated by the master Michelozzo.
The town hall building is crowned with a jagged crown, well known to fans of films about knights and princesses. From below, the stone edging is attached to the building with small vaults. In them, the artists depicted the coats of arms of the nine guilds that stood at the head of the Florentine Republic. By the way, vaults have not only a decorative, but also a functional purpose. Through them, the owners of the tower could pour hot tar or throw stones on the heads of the besiegers.
The decor that adorns the portal of the main entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio attracts attention. It was fortified on the wall in 1528. Two maned lions against a deep blue background guard the marble tablet.
The Latin inscription “Rex Regum et Dominus Dominantium” means “King of kings, ruler of lords.” Which is the monogram of Jesus Christ, the son of God.
Near the main entrance to the town hall, called Lion's Gate, and also on the corner of the building there are beautiful examples of Italian architecture. Directly at the entrance there is a copy of the famous Michelangelo. He was accompanied by Hercules, wrestling Cacus, who came out of the workshop of Baccio Bandinelli.
Arnolfo Tower
Separately, it is worth talking about the construction of the tower included in architectural ensemble palace 
This building was erected on the foundation of an older building - the La Vacca Tower. The high stone walls are topped with an openwork pinnacle with internal niches. The building, rising 94 meters above Piazza della Signoria, was named Arnolfo Tower, in honor of its creator. In the middle of the 17th century, a clock created by master Giorgio Lederle was built into the façade of the tower. Since then, the chronometer has been regularly telling the time to visitors to the square.
IN modern days The Arnolfo Tower adorns the Palazzo Vecchio, and in medieval times it was used as a prison. Cosimo de' Medici and Girolamon Savonarola were imprisoned in the cells throughout the 15th century. The first belonged to the powerful Medici family, which ruled Florence. A penchant for intrigue and overly active participation in the political life of Italy brought disastrous results. Savonarola, a Catholic priest who gathered a flock of thousands under the dome of the Duomo, was persecuted for his overly strict views.
Interior decoration
The beauty of the interior of the Old Palace contrasts sharply with the external modesty of the rusticated stone. The three tiers of the building are divided into many halls dedicated to one or another theme. However, let's start our acquaintance with Palazzo Vecchio in order.
First patio
The Lion Gate, guarded by statues of David and Hercules, opens the entrance to the courtyard of the Old Palace, also called the First. Barely setting foot on stone slabs courtyard, the traveler freezes for a second, trying to absorb all its beauty. The carved columns and high vault of the painted ceiling are elegant and filled with the smallest details.
In the center of the First Courtyard there is a small fountain, regularly gurgling water, surrounded by dwarf orange trees. The fountain is decorated with a small copy of the statue of Cupid with a dolphin, the architect (Andrea del Verrocchio). The original sculpture is displayed in the rooms on the second floor. The master Michelozzo worked on creating the impressive interior of the town hall in the mid-15th century. The appearance of a place filled with grandeur and romance was timed to coincide with the wedding of the Florentine ruler Francesco de' Medici with Joan of Austria.
On the walls of the courtyard, the artist (Giorgio Vasari) painstakingly painted views of ancient cities belonging to Austro-Hungarian Empire. The familiar outlines of Graz, Vienna, Linz and Prague were supposed to satisfy the longing of the young wife of an Italian nobleman for her distant homeland.
Hall of the Five Hundred
After passing the charming courtyard, visitors find themselves in a hall that is impressive in its size and beauty. The Hall of the Five Hundred (Italian: Salone dei Cinquecento) occupies a significant part of the first tier of the Palazzo Vecchio. The room has impressive dimensions: 52 by 23 meters. Simone del Paloiolo worked on its creation at the end of the 15th century. According to the idea of Girolamon Savonarola, the Great Council was to meet in this hall. After the fall of the Medici family, the fate of the Florentine Republic was determined by 500 council members. Savonarola became closely involved in the affairs of the Catholic Church, fighting for the purity and righteousness of its servants.
During the reign of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo I, master Vasari decorated the walls of the hall with frescoes depicting battle scenes. During the refurbishment of the hall into the Duke's court chamber, frescoes of the great Italians and. However, Michelangelo's most significant masterpiece, the sculptural ensemble Genius trampling on brute force (1533-1534), has successfully survived to this day.
Along the walls of the Hall, in special niches, sculptures of the Popes who ruled the church in collaboration with the Medici family are displayed. They were created by the great sculptor Baccio Bandinelli. If you turn your gaze upward, a new wave of admiration will engulf the visitor. The high ceiling of the Hall is decorated with paintings glorifying the Grand Duke and his army. In the center of the ceiling is a panel depicting the triumph of Cosimo I as Duke of Florence and Tuscany.
Small secret room, located behind the huge Hall of the Five Hundred, served as the office of Francesco Medici. The son of Cosimo I had very diverse interests; he used the office as a studio, laboratory, and even a kind of storage for objects valuable to him. The sculptor and artist Giorgio Vasari also worked on the creation and decoration of the cabinet. The walls and sloping ceiling of the studio are completely covered with paintings. Together with bronze figurines, this interior is recognized as a classic example of mannerism.
Hall of Lilies
The second tier of Palazzo Vecchio is divided into several picturesque rooms. The most majestic of them is the Hall of the Lilies (Italian: Sala dei Gigli). Portal leading to this amazing place, made of snow-white marble. The walls of the room are filled with a huge fresco by Domenico Ghirlaindo. The master spent a significant part of 1482 painting on the walls of the premises of the first Florentine bishop, Saint Zenobius, surrounded by Saints Stephen and Lawrence. Also on the walls you can admire the image of the pillars of the Roman Empire: Cicero, Scipio, Brutus.
However, the greatest impression on the unprepared visitor is made by the ceiling decor. The surface of the ceiling is covered with golden stucco in the shape of a honeycomb. The bottom of each honeycomb has a deep blue tint, against which lilies glow in gold - a symbol of the influential French family of Anjou. During the feud between the religiously minded Guelphs and the Ghibellines, the Count of Anjou and his descendants supported supporters of papal power. The Florentines decided to perpetuate the fateful contribution of their comrades-in-arms in such an unusual way.
Another pearl of the Hall of Lilies is the sculpture of Judith and Holofernes by Donatello. A copy of this sculpture can be seen in Piazza della Signoria, outside the Old Palace.
Other attractions of the Old Palace
Also worthy of mention is the Hall of Elements, which depicts the four forces that give birth to life on Earth: fire, water, wind and earth. Moreover, the elements are executed in the form of allegories, for example, Venus, emerging from the sea foam, became water.
The Hall of Maps, on the second floor of the palace, contains 53 maps drawn by the monk Ignato Danti. From them it is not difficult to determine the breadth of geographical knowledge of the Florentines in the 16th century. In 1581, a huge globe was installed in the center of the hall. This model globe was the largest in Italy at that time.
While absorbing the beauty, the traveler may become somewhat fed up with frescoes, sculptures, paintings and other works of art. To take a short break, just climb to the top tier of the Palazzo Vecchio. There is a terrace of Saturn, which offers a wonderful view of the city. The height of the view from this lodgetta is inferior to Giotto's bell tower and Brunneleschi's dome. However, consider the Florentine rooftops, hills and famous places interest, it will be possible without problems.
How to get there and opening hours
The Old Palace is located in Piazza della Signoria. This attraction is located in the center of Florence, so getting to it by public transport is not a problem.
Find a hotel in the center of FlorenceWorking hours
On Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday you can get inside the Palazzo Vecchio from 9:00 to 19:00. On Thursday the palace receives visitors from 9:00 to 14:00.
Ticket prices
A visit to the halls of the Old Palace Museum will cost a tourist 14 euros. Look into clock tower Arnolfo of the town hall is also available for an additional 10 euros. Combined ticket “Museum + Tower” – 14 euros. There is also a “student” discount for groups of visitors 18-25 and over 65 years old, with the appropriate documents.
Official website of the Palazzo Vecchio Museum: www.musefirenze.it
Contact phone: +39 055 276 83 25
We are in love with Italy from the first time and for life. Happy to share useful tips and inspire you to travel to the most beautiful country in the world. We are waiting for everyone to fall in love with Italy with us atour author's excursions in Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice, Genoa, Bologna, Parma, Milan, Tuscany, as well as Sicily and Sardinia.
Palazzo Vecchio is the symbol of Florence and the medieval town hall of the city, located in the historical center, on Piazza della Signoria. The monumental palace-fortress is made in the Romanesque style and differs from many Florentine buildings with its high crenellated tower and upper-tier walls. Palazzo Vecchio in Florence is considered real architectural gem, and now - national museum arts, which presents masterpieces of the Renaissance.
The distinctive rough brick façade of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.
History of construction
In 1299, the guilds and residents of Florence jointly decided to build a magnificent palace, which was to become the city hall. Arnolfo di Cambio was invited to work on a large-scale project, who began building a palazzo on the site of several palaces of the Uberti family, demolished in 1295. Di Cambio designed a building with a high crenellated tower, which was called the "Tower of Arnolfo" (Torre di Arnolfo) and reached a height of 94 meters. It housed two small prison cells, in which Cosimo de "Medici senior", Girolamo Savonarola and others were later imprisoned. Immediately after the completion of construction, the palazzo began to be called the "New Palace" (Palazzo Nuova), and then - the “Palace of the Signoria” (Palazzo della Signoria). In the 16th century, the town hall began to be called Palazzo Ducale, since the building became the residence of Duke Cosimo de' Medici. During the same period, the building was reconstructed and acquired the features of Renaissance architecture only decades later. city hall began to be called Palazzo Vecchio - “Old Palace”, and the building became a repository for Medici family jewels and ceremonial costumes. In 1871, the Palazzo Vecchio was returned to its original function and the building became the seat of the city administration of Florence. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the city hall moved to another building, and the medieval palazzo became an art museum.
The upper tier of the Palazzo Vecchio consists of arched windows, as well as a number of arched loopholes, in the niches of which are the coats of arms of noble Florentine families, communities and guilds.
Features of facade design
Palazzo Vecchio in Florence is a building with a square regular shape in plan, made of brick and rough stone. On the facade of the building there are two rows of double-hung Gothic windows, each of which is complemented by a carved stone frame in the shape of a trefoil. The architecture of the palace is distinguished by clear forms - the characteristic decor of the facade consists of narrow geometric cornices, visually dividing the building into 3 tiers. The upper gallery, crowned with battlements, forms a single composition with the Arnolfo Tower, characteristic of Gothic Italian architecture. At the base of the tower there is a clock that still runs 400 years later.
Arnolfo's tower is surmounted by double cusped battlements, simple Venetian sash windows, and a series of arched battlements with pointed ends.
The decor of window openings is characteristic of Renaissance architecture - archivolts lined with rusticated panels. Above the entrance of the central portal there is a decorative marble pediment, decorated with a sculptural composition depicting two gilded lions. Between the lion statues is a relief with the monogram of Jesus Christ, reading: “King of kings, ruler of lords” (Rex Regum et Dominus Dominantium). On either side of the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio are two famous sculptures: “Hercules” and “Cacus” by Bartolomeo Bandinelli. And immediately in front of the entrance, on a high pedestal, there is a statue, also a symbol of Florence - “David” by Michelangelo.
The decorative pediment of the main entrance to the Florentine Palazzo Vecchio is also decorated with a painting depicting a starry sky - a traditional motif of Gothic architecture.
Apart from the sculptures in front of the main entrance, Palazzo Vecchio is practically devoid of sculptural decoration, which was traditional for the architecture of the early Gothic, as well as the early Renaissance - the main trends in the traditions of which the palace was decorated. The decor of the courtyard-patio almost completely coincides with the elements of the upper tier of the facade - an arcade, in the lunettes of which are the coats of arms of church brotherhoods and Florentine communities. The Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, along with the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, is a symbol of the city and one of the most visited attractions in Italy.
It might be useful to read:
- How to get on an excursion to Antarctica?;
- Czech Republic Troy Castle. Troja Castle in Prague. Ancient winery and museum;
- Böcklin and his “island of the dead” A cultural phenomenon of its time;
- Air tickets to Crimea Air tickets to Crimea will become cheaper;
- What you can and cannot take with you;
- Open left menu Heviz How to get from Budapest to Lake Heviz;
- Cable car in Nha Trang (Vinpearl) The longest cable car in the world Vietnam;
- Kamenets-Podolsk fortress - a historical monument of Ukraine Life outside the walls of the Kamenets-Podolsk fortress;