Head to the south bank of the Arno River to immerse yourself in some of the finest art galleries in Florence.
The Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti) was built in 1458 for Luca Pitti, a wealthy Florentine banker. A century later it became the chief residence of the Medici family, who filled it with their priceless collections of art, artefacts and jewellery. Subsequent residents included Napoleon and King Victor Emmanuel III, who donated it to the Italian people in 1919. Today it houses several art collections as well as the Medici treasure.The grand Palatine Gallery on the first floor displays over 500 paintings mainly from the Renaissance period, collected by the Medicis and their successors. Here you can view the paintings in their original domestic setting, with no attempt to curate them chronologically or according to different schools. The adjoining royal apartments, which were substantially refurbished in the 19th century, contain a collection of Medici portraits as well as period furnishings and ornaments.The second floor is given over to the Gallery of Modern Art, although the definition of “modern” only covers the period up until the Second World War. The collection includes many works by artists of the influential Macchiaioli movement, a school of 19th-century Tuscan painters who were early pioneers of Impressionism.The Silver Museum, otherwise known as the Medici Treasury, contains examples of priceless silver, including Lorenzo de' Medici’s collection of ancient vases. There is also a costume gallery displaying garments from the 18th century to the present day as well as a unique collection of theatrical costumes, and a carriage museum of vehicles used by the Grand Ducal court and other Florentine dignitaries.The Boboli Gardens that surround the palace are designed in the formal Italian style. Here you will find the Casino del Cavaliere, which houses a porcelain museum containing fine examples from major European factories such as Sèvres and Meissen, including several large dinner services and a collection of figurines.The Pitti Palace is closed on Mondays, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and May 1. Different opening hours and admission fees apply to the various galleries, so it’s best to check the website of the Polo Museale Fiorentino to plan your visit.
