BEHIND THE SCENES

Rewind the clock and plunge into Florence’s intriguing history on a tour of Palazzo Vecchio. You will be led right to the core of the city’s political power and hear gripping tales of capture, conspiracy and coups.

Overlooking Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio has stood proudly at the centre of Florence’s fluctuating fortunes for seven hundred years. Designed by architect Arnolfo di Cambio in the 13th century, this fortress-palace was first built as the seat of the Priors and Gonfaloniere of Justice, the supreme governing institutions of the Middle Ages. The original structure has changed over time and what we can admire today is the result of successive reworkings and enlargements carried out throughout the centuries. In the mid-1500s major renovation work was entrusted to architect and painter Giorgio Vasari by Cosimo I de’ Medici who used Palazzo Vecchio as his private residence before moving into the prestigious mansion of Palazzo Pitti. Between 1865 and 1871, when Florence was the capital of Italy, the premises hosted the seat of the country’s government. Mighty symbol of the city’s glorious feats, today Palazzo Vecchio is home to the town hall as well as a fascinating museum.

You will meet your private guide at your accommodation and take a walk to Palazzo Vecchio. Your day begins with a group visit of the building’s secret itineraries led by an official guide from the museum. Our special reservation provides access to quarters that are not included in regular visits, allowing guests to discover hidden corners and gain insight into the daily routines of those who once frequented the palazzo. You will glimpse a secret staircase built as an escape route in 1342, admire the cleverly-planned trussed structure that supports the roof of the massive Salone dei Cinquecento and take a peek at the Studiolo of Francesco I. In this small barrel-vaulted cabinet of curiosities, created between 1570 and 1575 and sumptuously decorated by the greatest Mannerist painters of the time, the duke concealed his collection of rare and precious mirabilia and also dabbled in alchemy.

Later, rejoin your private guide and together explore the chambers of the first and second floors of the palazzo. Highlights of your tour include the grandiose Salone dei Cinquecento, with its magnificent ceiling panels celebrating the glories of Cosimo I de’ Medici; the private apartments and chapel of Eleonora da Toledo, wife of Cosimo I; the opulently decorated Hall of Lilies, home to Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes; the Map Room, housing an enthralling collection of 16th century maps.

The final treat of this tour can be enjoyed after mounting 218 steps to reach the top of Palazzo Vecchio’s tower. Here, where notable Florentines were once imprisoned before being sentenced to exile or death, guests can now delight in sweeping views of the city and the River Arno.