Most likely, anyone who has found a luxury villa in Florence and is planning a trip to the city has already made plans to visit the Palazzo Pitti and pencilled it into the itinerary. However, if we might, we would make a suggestion. Take a whole day for the excursion, take your time and make sure to set some aside for the Gallery of Modern Art.
The Palazzo Pitti is a vast and elaborate Renaissance palace in the city of Florence. It was originally the luxury home of a wealthy banker called Luca Pitti but was later bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became their primary residence.
Today it belongs to the state and is open to the public. The palace itself is an important and intriguing tourist attraction and the surrounding Boboli Gardens are also well worth a visit, however, that is not nearly where the cultural and historic riches of the building end: it is also home to the Palatine Gallery, Silver Museum, Gallery of Modern Art and several other gallery spaces and exhibitions.
The Palazzo Pitti is a vast and elaborate Renaissance palace in the city of Florence. It was originally the luxury home of a wealthy banker called Luca Pitti but was later bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became their primary residence.
Today it belongs to the state and is open to the public. The palace itself is an important and intriguing tourist attraction and the surrounding Boboli Gardens are also well worth a visit, however, that is not nearly where the cultural and historic riches of the building end: it is also home to the Palatine Gallery, Silver Museum, Gallery of Modern Art and several other gallery spaces and exhibitions.
The Gallery of Modern Art has had a home on the second floor of the palace since 1924 and extends as far as the rooms along the facade of the building that were once used by the Medici for the palace library and the side wings used for children and retainers.
It was founded in 1914 and initially comprised of works of art brought in from the Academy of Fine Arts.
Today, the collection has grown and there are thirty rooms that follow a chronological development in the history of art, from Neoclassicism to the 1920s.
With a rich collection, the gallery boasts Neoclassic works like the "Oath of the Saxons to Napoleon" by Pietro Benvenuti; romantic works like the grandiose "Entry of Charles VIII" by Giuseppe Bezzuoli and the rich and vibrant "The Two Foscari" by Francesco Hayez; famous sculptural works like Canova's "Calliope”; and, importantly, a fine collection of works by the Macchiaioli, the famous 19th century Tuscan artists.
It was founded in 1914 and initially comprised of works of art brought in from the Academy of Fine Arts.
Today, the collection has grown and there are thirty rooms that follow a chronological development in the history of art, from Neoclassicism to the 1920s.
With a rich collection, the gallery boasts Neoclassic works like the "Oath of the Saxons to Napoleon" by Pietro Benvenuti; romantic works like the grandiose "Entry of Charles VIII" by Giuseppe Bezzuoli and the rich and vibrant "The Two Foscari" by Francesco Hayez; famous sculptural works like Canova's "Calliope”; and, importantly, a fine collection of works by the Macchiaioli, the famous 19th century Tuscan artists.
While, the gallery is merely one part of the smorgasbord of things to see and do in the Palazzo Pitti, it is one not to overlook on your next trip to Florence!
