Palazzo Medici

Palazzo Medici is one of the great palaces in Florence. Today, visitors can view an array of artwork and impressive architecture. At the time it was constructed by commission of Cosimo I de’Medici in the fifteenth century, Florence was undergoing a period of immense prosperity and financial growth. The Medici in Florence Italy had been thrown out of the city (prior to the construction of the palazzo) as they were seen as a direct threat to the Florentine Republic. It is believed that this is the reason that Cosimo Medici opted for the Michelozzo di Bartolomeo over the more famous, but far more unrestrained, Brunelleschi.

Although the Palazzo Medici is large and impressive, it was purposefully designed in such a way that reflected the manner in which the Medici clan expended their influence in Florence: behind the scenes. An expansive stone palazzo that employs the convention of masonry rustication to impart a practical image. The public has the pleasure of being able to visit the Medici Chapel in Florence and all of the other attractions contained within this famous and historically significant palazzo.

Palazzo Medici Riccardi Museum
Palazzo Medici Riccardi Museum

For those people still crafting their itineraries for an upcoming trip to the capital of Tuscany, you cannot go wrong with a visit to the museum at the Medici in Florence Italy. Walking through the palazzo takes you inside over four centuries of history by displaying the art and various other things that the Medici family acquired over the years. You also witness the grand frescoed ceilings and Renaissance architecture that, when viewed today, seem impossible in terms of being someone’s actual residence. The usual itinerary begins in the fifteenth-century courtyard designed by Michelozzo himself. It is widely considered one of the most picturesque of all such gardens and parks in the city of Florence.

Then it is on to the Medici Chapel in Florence, more properly referred to as the Chapel of the Magi. The chapel is reached by taking an awe-inspiring, seventeenth-century staircase upward where you will find the frescoed ceilings painted by Benozzo Gozzoli. These unbelievable frescoes are some of the biggest draws at the museum in general, and are certainly the highlight of the Medici chapel in Florence. They depict such stirring scenes as the procession of the Magi (on the eastern wall), the choir of angels in the apse, and various other portraits of celebrated papal officials, saints, and patriarchs.

The Galleria at the Palazzo Medici is the main section of the ground floor. Here you will be treated to a vast selection of late Baroque art and the ceiling frescoes of Luca Giordano. You can leisurely stroll through the Galleria with exceptional views of the courtyard outside. The Medici in Florence Italy also regularly features exhibitions, all of which can be attended when you purchase a regular ticket to get into the palazzo museum. There are discounts on the usual price of tickets (around 7 Euros) for groups of fifteen or more, kids under six, and members of the armed forces. The museum is open every day except Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. .

Top image: MCAD Library (flickr)
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