A PEEK AT THE PAST

Leap into the past and discover how Florentines lived in the Middle Ages on an entertaining, family-friendly tour of the city. Young visitors will travel back to the 14th century and take a peek at the customs and traditions of an ancient household.

The echoes of medieval domestic life still resonate inside the noble Gothic residence of Palazzo Davanzati. As you wander through the rooms of this extraordinarily well-preserved tower-house, imagine its inhabitants as they carried out their daily affairs: cooks preparing medieval meals using ingredients purchased at the nearby Mercato Vecchio; housemaids busy with sewing or drawing water from the internal well; aristocratic owners reposing in their chambers while frescoed figures from a contemporary soap opera act out scenes from their compelling dramas on the walls around them.

The palazzo, built by the Davizzi family around the mid-14th century, was purchased in 1578 by a wealthy merchant, Bernardo Davanzati, and remained in the family’s possession until 1838. Since 1910 it has hosted the Museum of the typical Florentine home, reconstructing the setting and atmosphere of a medieval residence. Spread over four floors are reception rooms, a dining room, a study, a bedroom, a kitchen and even a toilet – a real rarity for houses of those times! Rooms have tiled floors and wooden ceilings and display furniture and utensils from the 14th to the 19th centuries along with a precious collection of ceramics and lacework. The main chambers are decorated with frescoes depicting curtains, coats of arms, geometrical motifs, parrots and a genealogical tree of the Davanzati family. The most fascinating paintings can be found inside a bedroom named “Camera della Castellana”. The upper part of the walls feature a fresco cycle representing scenes from the Châtelaine de Vergi, a 13th century French tale of courtly love, vengeance and death which became fashionable in Florence. Two couples meet, chat and embrace among citrus trees but only one of the protagonists will survive. Who will it be?

Highlights also include the kitchen and its utensils. Pots, pans, cauldrons, crockery, a corkscrew, a dough kneader and weaving tools allow visitors to take a glimpse into the busy daily bustle of yesteryear’s cooks and domestic staff. Young time-travellers will learn all about life in Florence in the Middle Ages, discover what nobles ate, see where they slept and uncover their habits and secrets.

After browsing the palazzo, hit the streets of the old town on a quest for its most striking monuments. You will explore Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, the heart of the city’s religious and political life. Your guide will bring history to life for children and enrich their visit with intriguing stories and anecdotes about Florentine celebrities. Power-mad lords, headstrong artists and a host of other fascinating characters will make their appearance in the colourful canvas that unfolds before your eyes. You will spot the city’s symbols and the coats of arms of ancient noble families, discover how almost six hundred years ago a Renaissance genius created what is still the world’s largest masonry dome and see where Florence’s ambitious rulers once forged its destiny.