Hall of the Five Hundred Palazzos. Palazzo Vecchio in Florence

Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) is located on one of the most beautiful squares in Italy - Piazza della Signoria. The construction of the Palace began in 1294 according to the project of Arnolfo di Cambio as a fortress to protect the residence of the priors - a powerful square building with a jagged top. Gives even more solidity to the palace high tower(94 meters), which has risen above the gallery since 1310. The outside of the building is clad in hard stone rustication. The three-storey façade is decorated with paired windows inscribed in semicircular arches, which gives the entire building an impression of restrained austerity. Between 1343 and 1592, changes and additions were made to the original design of Arnolfo di Cambio (both inside and outside the building). Such masters as Kronaka, Vasari and Buontalenti took part in these works. On the facade, under the arches of the gallery, you can see frescoes with nine coats of arms of the city's communes. The watch has a mechanism that dates back to 1667. On both sides of the entrance to the palace are marble sculptures for hanging chains.

In front of the Palazzo Vecchio there are a number of sculptures, among which is the famous copy of David by Michelangelo, which replaced the original in 1873. Above the façade above the entrance is a medallion with the monogram of Christ, flanked by figures of lions against a bright blue background of tympanum and surmounted by a triangular cornice. The Latin inscription "Rex regum et Dominus dominantium", which means "The King rules and God rules", was placed here in 1551 by decree of Cosimo I.

Salon five hundred Palazzo Vecchio, intended to hold meetings of the Great People's Council after the second expulsion of the Medici from Florence, was designed by the architect Kronak. The decoration of the hall was headed by Vasari. Allegorical paintings on the ceiling and walls tell of the triumphant Return of the Grand Duke Cosimo I to Florence, the history of the conquests of Pisa and Siena. Among the marble statues, the sculptural group of Michelangelo "Genius trampling on brute force" should be noted.

Among the Supreme Apartments, in addition to the apartments of Eleonora of Toledo and the Audienz Hall, the Hall of Lilies should be highlighted. The hall owes its name to the decoration depicting a golden lily flower on a blue background. The walls are frescoed by Domenico Ghirlandaio. The Hall of Lilies exhibits the famous Judith, Donatello's masterpiece. Previously, she stood in the Piazza della Signoria.

Palazzo Vecchio(Palazzo Vecchio) is an old palace, one of the most remarkable monuments of Florence. The tower of the palace, 94 meters high, immediately catches the eye from the Belvedere observation deck.

The Palazzo Vecchio was built in 1299 in the image and likeness of the Gothic palace of the city council in Volterra (1208), and was originally called the new palace, since the government moved there from the former building of the Bargello. In the 15th century, the building began to be called the Palazzo della Signoria, as the then rulers declared themselves signors.

In the 16th century, the palace was called Palazzo Ducale (Duke's Palace), where the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I Medici, settled. At the direction of the duke, the architect Vasari significantly changed the interiors of the palace. When the duke moved to Palazzo Pitti, the building became known as the old palace. Since then, the palace has been called that - old, becoming older and older every year ...

Since 1872 the palace has been the seat of the City Council of Florence. In addition, museums are located in the Palazzo Vecchio.

The inner courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio was created in the second half of the 15th century, columns with white and gold stucco support a ceiling with frescoes of the 16th century.

The palace is decorated with many sculptures, among them there is one by Michelangelo.

The halls of the palace, without exception, are magnificently decorated.

Absolutely luxurious ceilings with murals and wooden carvings do not repeat each other, but are made in the same style.

I was very surprised by the bright lights in the palace. Usually in such places they are not even allowed to take pictures with a flash ...

The furnishings of the palace in most cases have not been preserved, you can see only a few pieces of interior.

The main room of the palace is the Five Hundred Hall, which was intended for meetings of the General Council.

Vasari and his students, decorating the interior at the behest of the Medici, destroyed the previously existing masterpieces “The Battle of Anghiari” by Leonardo da Vincia and “The Battle of Cascina” by Michelangelo. In our time, work is being carried out that may reveal to our eyes the fresco of Leonardo, hidden by a later painting by De Rossi.

The works of Vasari, depicting the Labors of Hercules, were intended to demonstrate the power and glory of the duke and his state.

Sometimes quite by accident turn out unexpectedly beautiful photos. From the lodge of the Palazzo Vecchio palace, she shot through the window pane of the roofs of Florence.

And this is the same view through the open aperture.

Photos with a view of the Basilica of Santa Croce well conveyed the feeling of freshness after rain in the ancient city.

small virtual walk according to the Palazzo Vecchio, the history of the palace, its interior and some memories associated with the famous Hollywood blockbuster

Keywords: Palazzo Vecchio, museums of Florence, Inferno, Excursions in Florence, reviews of Florence, Tuscany Italy.

Here it is, a rather unusually shaped palace, the decoration of Signoria Square. Its clock tower is visible from almost anywhere in Florence. By the way, it was this palace that gave the name of the square on which it was built - once it was called Palazzo della Signoria, then the building was renamed Palazzo Ducale ( ducal palace), a little later the palace began to be called the Old. This name has survived to this day: Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace)

The entrance to the palazzo is decorated with two famous sculptures: the statue of David by the great Michelangelo and "Hercules defeating Cacus" by Baccio Bandinelli (pictured below). It is behind this sculpture on the wall of the palace that one can find mysterious drawing. The profile of a man is depicted on the stone. According to legend, this drawing belongs to Michelangelo. He bet that, turning his back, he would carve on the wall the face of the criminal, who at that moment was being hanged in the square. Here is such a legend. There is a picture, I checked it myself. You will also find it when you walk around the square :)

Now in the building of the Old Palace there is a museum, which is called "Palazzo Vecchio". One of the most famous halls is the Hall of Five Hundred. It is named so due to the fact that at one time 500 members of parliament sat in it. The walls of the hall are painted with frescoes depicting battle scenes, and on the ceiling you can see paintings (39 ceiling panels) glorifying Duke Cosimo de Medici himself.

Fans of Dan Brown's work and just lovers of Hollywood action games know Florence from the novel "Inferno" and the film of the same name. In particular, quite a lot of the events described in the book take place precisely in the Palazzo Vecchio, and in the film the famous ceiling of the Hall of Five Hundred is generally pierced through. I propose to refresh the memory of the film, just the right time to watch a short excerpt:

A terrible sight for connoisseurs and connoisseurs, isn't it?

No less interesting is the office of Francesco I Medici, but this sculpture of an angel simply cannot be passed, there are especially many crowds around the Chinese. To be honest, I didn’t understand what kind of masterpiece this is, I didn’t find any special references to the sculpture offhand. Maybe for the Chinese, the black angel is an outstanding thing in itself, maybe it really is a world-class masterpiece, while it remains a mystery. If anyone knows - enlighten in the comments, pliz. I would like to educate myself somehow :)

Personally, I drew attention to a series of such secretaries, apparently in those days it was fashionable to style "office" furniture under the facades of palaces.

The second floor of the building is also rich in sights. Here is the Hall of Lilies. The pride of this hall is not so much the frescoes with images of saints and popes as the ceiling, reminiscent of golden honeycombs - in each of the cells on a blue background, golden lilies, a symbol of the French family of Anjou, are painted. And what about the French? Everything is very simple: gratitude for the once timely financial assistance and support to the supporters of the Pope.

And, of course, the Hall of Maps cannot be left unnoticed, where you will find 53 old maps drawn by the monk Ignat Danti, and in the center of the hall is the largest globe at that time (mid-16th century).

Fans of Dan Brown can't help but visit the hall! This is where the scene unfolds, shedding light on the mystery of the Vasari Corridor. Let's look at another snippet:

Yes, there is also a map of Armenia, and it is really located on a disguised door:

It was not easy for us to pick this door, so we have to take the word of the heroes of the novel that it is from here that you can get into some kind of secret passage. But nearby we found a map of Muscovy :)

This concludes our short report. More, better and more fun you will be told about the Palazzo Vecchio on the tour, I advise you to pay attention: Tickets for the tour (from 33 euros)

Well, our walks around historical places and museums are coming to an end. I think it makes no sense to talk about the Florentine Academy of Fine Arts on paper (in this case, from a monitor), the originals of most of the sculptures from all the palaces and squares of Florence are collected there, you just have to see it with your own eyes. And the rest of the museums are worth a personal visit. If someone else doubts about the trip - pack your bags, you won't regret it!

Well, in the meantime, we will see how things are in Florence with modern art and go to visit Clet Abraham, who is known for his unusual road signs.

The construction of the Palazzo Vecchio began in 1299 on the site of the estate of the disgraced Uberti family. She fell into disgrace after the defeat of the party of Ghibellines, who supported the emperor, in a confrontation with the Guelphs - adherents of the Pope. Members of the Uberti family, as supporters of the Ghibellines, were killed or expelled from the city, and their residence was completely destroyed. And for some time this place was empty, until the priors sitting within the walls of the "old palace" decided that they needed another government building.

The development of the project was entrusted to the architect Arnolfo di Cambio, already well-known at that time, the creator of such architectural masterpieces as the Basilica of Santa Croce. Construction lasted 15 years and ended in 1314. Initially, the castle was uncomplicatedly called Palazzo Nuovo, which meant "new palace". Later it was renamed Signoria, and when the Tuscan Duke Cosimo I of the Medici family settled here, the name Palazzo Ducale appeared. A few years later, the duke moved to another castle, and then the future town hall became Palazzo Vecchio (translated as "old palace").

Throughout its existence, this building has been closely associated with political life. In the 15th century, sentences were announced and executions took place on the square in front of him, the most famous of which can be considered the hanging of the conspirator Francesco Pazzi and his accomplices right on the windows of the palace. In the late 1400s, during the rise of the monk Savonarola, who became the de facto ruler of Florence, the Republican Assembly met here. Later, the Medici who returned to power moved to the Palazzo Vecchio. And even when they changed their residence, the palace still housed government agencies. Today, there is the city hall and at the same time a museum.

How to get there

The famous Palazzo Vecchio is located in the very center of the city on. Therefore, if you are in the central part, we recommend that you do not look for transport, but walk to it.

The exact address: Piazza Signoria 1.

Very close to Palazzo Vecchio there is a bus route:

Option 1

Bus: route number C2 to the Condotta stop.

On foot: the stop is located next to the square, which will have to be crossed to get to the castle.

Within half an hour you can walk to the palace from the station of Santa Maria Novella

Option 1

On foot: follow via Faenza, turning into via F.Zannetti, then turn onto via dei Cerretani, and then onto via Roma.

Palazzo Vecchio on the map

Arnolfo Tower

The slender Arnolfo clock tower is the main decoration of the Palazzo Vecchio. It rises 94 meters above Piazza della Signoria. Tourists go up here to look around the whole of Florence from the observation deck and take amazing panoramic photos.

Actually, Arnolfo's clock tower became only in 1667, when the city clock by the master Lederle was installed on it. Interestingly, they still regularly show the time! Previously, the building was used as a prison, both Cosimo de Medici, prone to intrigues, and the fanatical monk Savonarola managed to be imprisoned here.

The tower is currently open to visitors, but only during good weather. To get inside, first you need to find a staircase with a sign "Tower And Battlements" in the hall of the Palazzo Vecchio and go upstairs. There will be another staircase leading to the top observation deck. Please note that visitors are allowed to enter it in groups so as not to overload the structure and not create a crowd - you may have to wait a bit.

Several stone steps in a narrow passage lead to the very top of the tower. Here you can fully experience the mysterious and slightly gloomy atmosphere. medieval castle. But now the last steps have been passed, and you are on the roof! Sunny Florence stretches in all directions, and you can look around the city from a bird's eye view right up to the horizon. Along with the Arnolfo Tower, it offers the city's guests the best panoramic views.

Interior decoration

Outwardly severe, monumental Palazzo Vecchio shows all its splendor in the design of the interior halls. They are located on three tiers, and each has its own theme. The main one is the Hall of Five Hundred, but we will talk about it in more detail a little later. Now let's look at other, no less bright and luxurious rooms of the castle.

Apartments of Leo X or the Medici family- this part of the complex combines three halls dedicated to members of a powerful family who played a significant role in the history of the city and the whole. The first room is decorated with drawings from the life of Cosimo the Elder (the one who was once imprisoned in the Arnolfo tower), the second with scenes involving his grandson Lorenzo the Magnificent, and the third with portraits of Pope Leo X.

Halls of the Elements- five rooms with frescoes depicting the symbols of fire, water, earth and air. This apartment once belonged to Duke Cosimo I, where he lived before moving to Palazzo Pitti. At one time, the duke ordered the painting of the halls by Giorgio Vasari, and this was the first work of the master for representatives of the Medici dynasty. Subsequently, the artist more than once enjoyed the patronage of a powerful family. Of all the paintings, the image of Venus the Foam-born (a symbol of the water element) attracts the most attention. No less interesting is the god of agriculture, Saturn, made on the ceiling of one of the halls. Also in this part of the Palazzo Vecchio there are two loggias with outdoor terraces, which you can go out to freshen up and take a few photos.

Apartments Eleonora Toledskaya- the rooms of the wife of Cosimo I, among which the Green Hall with a chapel and the Penelope Hall, where the original painting by Botticelli "Madonna and Child" is kept, stand out. The latter may also interest visitors with scenes from the Odyssey and a magnificent ceiling painting - it depicts Penelope herself at the loom. From the Green Hall, you can get into a long gallery connecting the Palazzo Vecchio with the neighboring Palazzo Pitti - it was called the Vasari Corridor.

Hall of Maps- Another interesting room on the second floor of the palace. Here are the old geographic Maps made by the monk and scientist Ignato Danti. They fully reflect the ideas about the world of the times of the 16th century. The central exhibit is a huge globe on a small pedestal, which has been kept in the Palazzo Vecchio since 1581.

audience hall- ceremonial apartments for receptions and working meetings of Cosimo I. In this room you can see fragments of the oldest interior of the Palazzo Vecchio, preserved from the time of the Florentine Republic.

First patio

You can get to the First Courtyard directly after the main entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio. Here, visitors always want to linger a little, because at the gate there are two majestic sculptures: David by the hand of Michelangelo himself and Hercules, made by the Italian master Bandinelli. However, as for David, a copy of the sculpture adorns the doorway, and the original is kept in the Academy of Fine Arts.

There is one legend associated with the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio. It is believed that on the wall behind the statue of Hercules, you can see a drawing by Michelangelo, who bet with a friend that he could sketch the face of the condemned to death, standing with his back to him. Whether this is true or not is unknown, but some of the tourists claim that something similar can really be seen on the wall.

However, let's return to the patio - from the first steps it strikes with a luxurious, but at the same time cozy atmosphere. The walls here are decorated with panoramas of Austrian cities, the ceiling is supported by carved columns, and in the center there is a fountain with a copy of the sculpture “Cupid with a Dolphin” by Andrea Verrocchio. The original can also be seen - it is stored on the second floor of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Giorgio Vasari worked on the interior of the courtyard, who was tasked with making this place pleasant for Joanna of Austria, the wife of Francesco Medici. Therefore, the Austrian theme was chosen for the decoration of the walls, reminding the young duchess of her homeland.

After inspecting the courtyard, you can go to the lobby of the Palazzo Vecchio, to the dressing room or to the museum box office. It is worth noting here that visitors with backpacks or bulky bags should, after buying a ticket, go towards the dressing room and hand over their things to the storage room. With backpacks, entry to the Palazzo Vecchio Museum is prohibited, but this may not be warned at the time of ticket purchase.

Hall of Five Hundred

The huge Hall of the Five Hundred, which stretches for more than 50 meters in length, occupies most of the ground floor of the Palazzo Vecchio. It was intended for the People's Council of the Florentine Republic, and during the reign of Savonarola - for meetings of the Assembly.

One is connected with its interior. interesting story. Initially, two great creators of Renaissance Italy, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, were invited to decorate the walls and ceiling. But, unfortunately, now in the Palazzo Vecchio we will not see these paintings. Both artists completed sketches of battle frescoes, but subsequently only Leonardo da Vinci set to work. He worked for about three years, but never completed the picture. There is an opinion that the master's experiments with paints in this case were not entirely successful, the fresco began to quickly collapse. Whatever it was, it remained unfinished. After the return to power of the Medici, the Palazzo Vecchio was reconstructed, as a result of which the fresco of Leonardo was hidden by a painting by Giorgio Vasari.

As for Michelangelo, instead of frescoes, visitors can admire another creation of this master. In the Hall of Five Hundred is the original sculpture "Genius tramples on brute force", on which the creator worked in the period 1533-1534. Perfectly preserved, it is one of the pearls of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Lily Hall

One of the most majestic rooms on the second floor is the Lily Hall. It is named so due to the decoration in the form of golden lily flowers, which are part of the coat of arms of the French family of Anjou. The representative of this dynasty, the Count of Anjou, once supported the supporters of the Pope. And the Guelphs, having come to power, thanked the family in this way.

The entrance to these apartments is decorated in the form of a snow-white marble portal, and the walls are occupied by a large-scale fresco by Ghirlindo depicting Brutus, Cicero, Saint Zanobius (the first bishop of Florence) and other prominent figures. Also here are paintings by Salviati based on the life of the Roman ruler Camillus - it is believed that this is how the artist allegorically portrayed Cosimo de Medici himself.

An important place among the exhibits of the Hall of Lilies is occupied by the original sculpture by Donatello "Judith and Holofernes". Once it stood on the square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, but at the end of the 20th century, for the sake of safety, it was moved to the palace, and a copy was installed in its original place.

Working hours and ticket price

The Palazzo Vecchio Museum is open according to the following schedule:

From April to September - from 09:00 to 23:00;
From October to March - from 09:00 to 19:00.

There are no days off, but on Wednesdays the museum has a reduced schedule - opening hours from 09:00 to 14:00. The cash desk stops working 1 hour before the closing of the complex.

There are several types of tickets that give you the right to visit different parts of the Palazzo Vecchio:

Full ticket - 18 euros ( ~1 320 rub. );
Museum and entrance to the tower - 14 euros ( ~1 026 rub. );
Museum and archaeological area - 14 euros ( ~1 026 rub. );
Museum only - 10 euros ( ~733 rub. );
Only the entrance to the tower - 10 euros ( ~733 rub. ).

Also have concession tickets for students and young people aged 18-25, they cost 2 euros cheaper. Children under 18 years old are free when accompanied by an adult.

Before the visit, check the information on, where you can also find out about the events held at the Palazzo Vecchio.

As an interesting option, the museum offers a "family package" for visitors with children from 6 to 13 years old. It includes information materials, an album of the Medici family, a map, binoculars, as well as fun crowns and hats for children. The set can be rented free of charge for 2 hours at the Palazzo Vecchio Information Point.

And after the tour of the palace, we recommend that you linger a little more in Piazza della Signoria, which in itself is like a large museum. Pay attention to the fountain of Neptune - oddly enough, at the time of its creation, the inhabitants were very skeptical of this new architectural object. Now, he is always admired. Near the fountain you can see the monument to Cosimo I, images of which are often found in the Palazzo Vecchio. And you should definitely visit the Loggia of Lanzi, where today there are sculptures by Benvenuto Cellini, Giambologna, Pio Fedi and others.

If after that you decide to continue the tour of interesting places Florence, just a few steps away is the famous Uffizi Gallery, which contains a huge collection of works of art. Do you want to stay under open sky- go to Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Europe, or stroll along the beautiful Arno embankment. Here, in historical center Florence, at every step you will be met by architectural masterpieces and traces of the great past of this city.

Business card

Address

Piazza Signoria 1, Florence, Italy

Official website of the Palazzo Vecchio

Price

Full ticket - 18 euros ( ~1 320 rub. ), museum and entrance to the tower - 14 euros ( ~1 026 rub. ), museum and archaeological area - 14 euros ( ~1 026 rub. ), museum only - 10 euros ( ~733 rub. ), only the entrance to the tower - 10 euros ( ~733 rub. ), students and youth (18-25 years old) - 2 euros cheaper, children under 18 years old - free of charge accompanied by adults

Working hours

From April to September - from 09:00 to 23:00, from October to March - from 09:00 to 19:00, on Wednesdays - until 14:00

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Palazzo Vecchio in Florence is an old and slightly gloomy castle in the center of a vibrant and vibrant city. The construction is more like a reliable fortress than the residence of the rulers. It certainly deserves the attention of tourists with its huge halls with beautiful paintings and unusual architecture. The project of the Palazzo belongs to the famous architect of the XIII century. Arnolfo di Cambio. Many works in the interior were made by the famous Michelangelo. Old lock with an outstanding clock tower is one of the recognizable symbols of Florence.

How did the name of the palace change?

Over the long history, the palace has been renamed several times. After the construction was completed, it was called the new palace (Palazzo Novo). For a long time, the building served as the town hall and the meeting place of the Council. In the middle of the XV century. the assessors began to call themselves Seniors and the castle turned into the Palace of the Seniors (Palazzo dela Senoria). When by the middle of the XVI century. Cosimo Medici settled in the palace, the building turned into the Palace of the Ruler (Palazzo Ducale). After only a few years, Cosimo moved to another residence and the castle acquired its current name of the Old Palace (Palazzo Vecchio).

Although most of the rooms are now used by the museum and are a tourist attraction, some of the rooms still belong to the city hall and are used for day-to-day administrative matters.

How was the Palazzo Vecchio built?

As early as the middle of the thirteenth century. various city services have announced the need for a new building for themselves. The most suitable territory was part of the lands of the Uberti dynasty. The once powerful family was defeated during internecine battles and conspiracies. Lively construction began on the ruins of the family castle.

By 1299, the famous architect Arnolfo di Cambio became the head of the work. He had already gained popularity by that time thanks to his other works: the Basilica of Santa Croce and Cathedral. new palace the architect represented powerful and indestructible. So that the monumental building was not too gloomy, it was decorated with graceful arches, and a clock tower was built nearby.

Period XIV-XV centuries. marked by many conspiracies against the Medici family. Famous conspirators included Francesco Pazzi and Giuliano di Bondino. In order to intimidate the executed criminals hung in the windows of the town hall. After that, a gloomy glory was attached to the palace.

Architecture

The plan of the Palazzo Vecchio has a rectangular base. In appearance, there are strict features without any frills. The walls are made of ordinary red brick. The building consists of three floors. Lower level used for protection and has no decorations. The rare window openings are rather narrow, the walls are smooth.

The windows of the second tier are wider and consist of several shutters. Window arches resemble curved reeds. The scenery of the second tier was handled by Michelozzo. The upper floor has a traditional crenellated decoration. This fabulous image is known to many from films about the Middle Ages. Inside the arched pillars, you can see the repeating nine coats of arms that belonged to the ruling guilds of Florence. In addition to the decorative purpose, the stone vaults served as the defense of the castle. Through small holes, hot oil or resin could be poured onto enemies.

Some time after the completion of construction, the main entrance of the castle acquired a new look. On the sides of the portal, statues of two lions, painted blue, were strengthened. Between them is a tablet with an inscription in Latin. This entrance was later called the Lion's Gate. Beautiful sculptures were installed near it and in the corners of the town hall: the statue of David (Michelangelo), Hercules (B. Bandinelli) and others.

Clock tower

The clock tower is part of the palace complex. The total height of the building is 94 m. ancient building- Towers of La Vacca. The building with a square section, almost to the very top, has no windows or other design. The construction of the tower was completed in 1314, but the clock was installed only in the middle of the 17th century. Giorgio Leperle worked on the creation of the clock mechanism, his creation still regularly serves the city.

Today the tower is an architectural gem of Florence, but several centuries ago it housed cells for prisoners. After several years of reign, Cosimo himself was imprisoned for various conspiracies. His neighbor was the Catholic priest Girolamon Savonarola, whom the people loved very much, but the duke considered his views too strict and dangerous for the rulers.

Interior

Behind the gloomy brick walls that appear before the eyes of tourists, there is a magnificent decoration of the halls. Several hundred frescoes are gilded, while spacious corridors and courtyards are lined with beautiful sculptures and fountains. Each room has its own theme and style.

Immediately behind the lion gate of the central portal is a cozy courtyard. The decoration of the first courtyard is impressive. There are stone slabs on the floor, and massive columns with openwork carvings are installed around the perimeter. The walls and ceiling are decorated with paintings, in the center there is a small fountain bowl with Cupid. Along the walls are tubs with small orange trees. This cozy and even romantic courtyard was created in honor of the wedding of Francesco Medici with Anna.

Passing through a small courtyard, visitors find themselves in the Hall of Five Hundred. This is a huge room with a length of 52 m and a width of 23 m. Simone del Paloyolo had a hand in decorating the hall. On the walls and vaults of the hall there are many frescoes by Vasari, da Vinci, Michelangelo with battle scenes. This is where it was supposed to sit. great advice consisting of 500 people. In the niches located along the perimeter of the hall, you can see the statues of the Popes, who were on friendly terms with the Medici dynasty. They are made by the sculptor Baccio Bandinelli.

Behind the huge Hall of Five Hundred lies a small room in which Cosimo Medici equipped an office for himself. A duke with varied interests used it as a laboratory, studio and treasury.

The halls of the second tier were not used for public services and have a more cheerful design. The most beautiful is the Hall of Lilies. The entrance to it is finished with marble slabs. The many golden honeycombs on the ceiling have a blue center with a golden lily. The walls along the entire height are painted with frescoes with biblical scenes and important people of the Roman Empire.

No less amazing are the other rooms of the Palazzo Vecchio. All of them are lively decorated and furnished with beautiful sculptures. Thanks to the windows, the spacious halls are flooded with warm natural light. When the eye gets tired of contemplating the countless frescoes, you can climb to the roof of the palace, to the terrace of Saturn. It is an observation deck from where you can admire the beautiful Florence.

Information for tourists

The Clock Tower and the Palazzo Vecchio are open to visitors from Friday to Wednesday from 9:00 to 19:00. On Thursday the doors close at 14:00. The cost of a tour of the palace is 10 euros. To view the tower, you will have to buy a separate ticket for the same price. A combined ticket will cost only 14 euros. Access to the observation deck costs 2 euros. For pensioners and students (citizens of the European Union), individual tickets cost 8 euros, and complex tickets cost 12 euros. Underage visitors can enjoy the sights for free. Half an hour before closing, you can enter the territory for free.

Palazzo Vecchio is located in the center of Florence on Piazza della Signoria. In the immediate area you can take buses C1, C2 or C3.