Pitti Palace: An Architectural Feat Spanning Three Dynasties
- sophia.bailly
- May 28, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: May 30, 2023
In the middle of a modern-day city teeming with elements of Renaissance-style design and architecture stands the Pitti Palace.
Located at the Piazza de' Pitti, the Pitti Palace is now the largest museum in Florence at 32,000 square meters with 140 rooms. The palace stands on the south side of the Arno River near the Ponte Vecchio.
The Pitti Palace survived centuries of residential changes to become the museum it is today. The art galleries displayed within the palace's walls are a feat in itself; however, the palace's architecture requires a walk through history and a look at three Italian dynasties that brought the palace to its modern-day fame.
The Palace’s Beginnings
Luca Pitti inspired the construction of the palace in 1458. Pitti, a Florentine banker, commissioned the project for Cosimo Medici I, who was a strong advocate of the arts and architecture.
At the time of the palace’s ongoing construction, Pitti purchased all the homes between the palace’s foundation and nearby hill to save room to build the Boboli Gardens (which also became a famous relic and historical documentation of the Medici bloodline).
Pitti also supposedly requested for the palace’s windows to be larger than the entrance to the Riccardi Medici Palace, which is a Renaissance-style palace in Florence dedicated to the Medici family.
The Pitti Palace’s origins are difficult to define because records of the construction process provide conflicting accounts and might perpetuate myths.
The palace remained unfinished at the time of Pitti’s death in 1473. Famous Italian architect Filippo Brunelleschi is said to have been the primary leader in the palace’s construction.
Brunelleschi’s architectural fame is dispersed throughout Florence, so it is no surprise his influence spread to the Pitti Palace as well. He was a pioneer of Renaissance architecture. His most notable work is considered to be the Duomo on the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Although Brunelleschi’s design and construction of the palace were never confirmed, many historians claim the palace was still predominantly his work. However, Brunelleschi died 12 years before the project even began.
Other sources claim Brunelleschi’s apprentice, Luca Fancelli, should be credited for the palace’s creation. Regardless of who initiated the construction, the building reflects the importance of architecture as a sign of power and appreciation in the 15th century and beyond.
Visitors to Florence might walk by the palace without a second thought. Or, they might purchase a ticket to tour the palace’s interior museums, then leave without considering the architectural endeavor that went into the palace’s conception. The large stone building has more history than what meets the eye.
Changes Over the Years
In the late 1400s, the palace was the largest, most impressive private residence in the city. The beginning stages of changes to the palace began in 1550, when Eleonora da Toledo, the wife of Cosimo I, purchased Pitti Palace.
Under Cosimo I’s ownership, the palace came to represent the sheer force of power the Medici family held over Florence. The Renaissance palace became flooded with riches and jewels while the building's exterior remained mundane in presentation.
Cosimo I had architect Giorgio Vasari expand the structure and add the Vasari Corridor, which is an above-ground walkway that crosses through Cosimo’s old palace, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Ponte Vecchio to the Pitti Palace. The corridor allowed Cosimo and his family to move safely and efficiently from their old palace to the Pitti Palace.
In 1737 the Lorraine-Habsburg family acquired the residence after Gian Gastone died as the last heir to the Medici family line. This Italian dynasty would oversee the palace until 1865 when the Savoy family would take residence for about six years.
Today, the building is divided into three sections: Galleria Palatina, Apartment Reali, and Appartamento Arazzi. The Galleria Palatina displays a collection of artwork and Renaissance-era paintings along the walls and ceilings. The gallery is open to the public alongside the Boboli Gardens.
Ancient Influence and Recent Changes
The Pitti Palace appears to be partially inspired and modeled after Roman aqueducts with its rigid stonework pattern and seven arch-head apertures. The design drew from the popular Florentine trend of all’antica, which means “in manner of the ancients” and referred to architectural styles of ancient Rome.
The palace also appears to borrow from Etruscan architectural elements. Etruscan civilization persisted from the eighth to third century BCE in Italy. The time period and style emphasized the riches that accompanied trading on the Mediterranean Sea. Etruscan architecture is especially evident in the pillars and arches implemented into the Pitti Palace’s design.
Bartolomeo Ammannati in 1560 and Giulio and Alfonso Parigi in the 17th century are credited for further widening the palace. Then, in the first half of the 19th century, Paoletti and Poccianti added the two lateral projecting planes to the building under the jurisdiction of the Habsburg-Lorraine family.
A Modern Attraction
Today, the palace’s association with other historic destinations in Florence spans across the Boboli Gardens, the Palatine Gallery, the Silver Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Costume Gallery, the Porcelain Museum, and the Museum of Carriages.
Although all museums and galleries follow similar popularity and visual appeal to visitors, the Pitti Palace is a time capsule of prestige and royalty. The Boboli Gardens that stand behind the palace is a hidden gem for the public to explore.
The Boboli Gardens are open during the same hours as the Pitti Palace. Admission to the gardens is 10 euros.
Along the pavement and pathways leading up to the palace’s front courtyard, Florentines and visitors bask in the sun on jackets while children and school groups run around excitedly.
Sofia Chiavacci, an employee at the Pitti Palace, said she views the palace as one of the city’s main destinations for tourists to visit.
“The palace is more popular now than it was twenty years ago,” she said. “Usually when people come [to Florence] they search for authenticity — the Italian Renaissance in particular. This palace is one of the most famous residences.”
Chiavacci cited the public’s interest in the Medici family as part of the palace’s appeal. Within the palace’s art galleries, visitors can see the different rooms, styles, and artworks the Medicis contributed during the family's reign in Florence.
“All we have in Florence is from the Renaissance,” Chiavacci said. “And that never changes because of the structure. Even places that we live in were built many, many centuries ago. For us, it’s quite normal. We don’t see that difference from one building to another because it is still exactly the same like 500 years ago.”
Outside the palace near the streets stands rows of souvenir carts, food vendors, and artists painting underneath the summer sun. Narek Akakelyan has lived in Florence for fifteen years and spends most of his days outside the Pitti Palace working on oil paintings of Florence’s most popular buildings.
Akakelyan paints different famous sites and monuments in Florence. The Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo are featured the most in his paintings.
“It’s a very beautiful city, so that translates into my art,” he said. “I like art that is natural.”
Akakelyan’s location outside the Pitti Palace helps draw foot traffic to his work. He said his art gains more attention in the summer months when big tour groups exit the palace and see his artwork.
His father is from Cuba and his mother is from Florence. He decided to move to Florence permanently because of its appeal to aspiring artists who use the impressive buildings and architectural styles as inspiration — including the Pitti Palace.
The grand palace that was once reserved for Florence’s mightiest families is now preserved for visitors far and wide to gaze upon and wonder how and why it was built in the first place.
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