THE POLITICAL HEART OF FLORENCE, FROM THE COMMUNE TO THE MEDICI
Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, also known as Palazzo della Signoria, has been the political heart of the city for more than seven centuries. Built as the Palace of the Priors and transformed by Cosimo I and Giorgio Vasari, it brings together civic history, art and court life.
During the visit, you will discover the Hall of the Five Hundred, the Studiolo of Francesco I, Eleonora of Toledo’s apartments, the Hall of Lilies and the Map Room, reading the palace as a magnificent representation of power.
YOUR GUIDE TO PALAZZO VECCHIO
Visit Palazzo Vecchio with Giulia Bacci
I am Giulia Bacci, a licensed tour guide and art historian. From 2013 to 2016, I worked with MUS.E as a cultural mediator at the Palazzo Vecchio Museum: I know the palace as a museum, a civic building and one of Florence’s great historical narratives. For a broader itinerary, you can also begin with my tour guide service in Florence.
PALAZZO VECCHIO MUSEUM
What to see in Palazzo Vecchio
The museum route crosses very different spaces, from a medieval civic fortress to the Medici residence. These are the essential things to see in Palazzo Vecchio and the key stages of the visit.
01
Michelozzo Courtyard
The medieval fortress immediately reveals the decorative programme created for the wedding of Francesco I and Joanna of Austria.
02
Hall of the Five Hundred
The Republic’s great assembly hall became, under Cosimo I, a manifesto of the new ducal power.
03
Studiolo of Francesco I
A secret room without natural light, conceived as a treasure chest of art, nature, alchemy and collecting.
04
Eleonora’s Apartments
The Green Room, the rooms devoted to illustrious women and Bronzino’s chapel reveal private life and dynastic representation. For a thematic itinerary, discover the Women of the Medici at Palazzo Vecchio.
05
Hall of Lilies
Ghirlandaio, the lilies of France and Donatello’s Judith bring together civic memory and masterpieces.
06
Map Room
Cosimo I’s Guardaroba turns the known world into a vast painted book across the cabinet doors.
ART, SPACE AND POLITICAL COMMUNICATION
Palazzo Vecchio as an art-history lesson on power
In the palace, images are not merely decorative: they direct visitors, establish hierarchies and transform history into propaganda.
01
Architecture and defence
Walkways, machicolations, the tower and the pietraforte masonry reveal the character of the first civic palace.
02
Republic and principality
The same building passes from the government of the Priors to the court of Cosimo I: the spaces change meaning without losing their civic memory.
03
Myths and symbols
Hercules, Perseus, Neptune, Moses and stories from ancient Rome become political models capable of speaking to the citizens.
04
Life at court
Apartments, chapels, studioli and terraces reveal the distinction between public, ceremonial and private spaces.
“At Palazzo Vecchio, we do not simply look at rooms and works of art: we learn to recognise how power constructs its own image.”
FROM THE PALACE OF THE PRIORS TO FLORENCE TOWN HALL
The history of Palazzo Vecchio, formerly the Palace of the Priors
Construction of the Palace of the Priors began in 1299, traditionally associated with Arnolfo di Cambio. The new building was designed to protect and house the city government.
Over the centuries, the complex was enlarged and changed name: Palace of the Priors, Palazzo della Signoria, Palazzo di Piazza and finally Palazzo Vecchio.
In 1540 Cosimo I de’ Medici moved his court here. Works directed by Giorgio Vasari transformed the interiors into a vast celebration of the principality. The court’s later move to Pitti Palace helped establish the name Palazzo Vecchio, or “Old Palace”.
1299
Work begins on the Palace of the Priors.
1494
Savonarola promotes the construction of the great Hall of the Five Hundred.
1540
Cosimo I moves his court into the Palazzo della Signoria.
1565
Decorations are created for the wedding of Francesco I and Joanna of Austria.
Today
Museum and seat of Florence City Council.
PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA AS A POLITICAL STAGE
Piazza della Signoria and Medici political communication
Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Loggia dei Lanzi and the Uffizi Gallery form a single urban system. Statues, fountains and routes narrate the passage from commune to dynasty.
Ammannati’s Fountain of Neptune, Cellini’s Perseus, the equestrian monument to Cosimo I and the copies of the Marzocco, Judith and David create an open-air political theatre.
ROOMS, APARTMENTS AND MASTERPIECES
Inside Palazzo Vecchio
The most famous rooms are only the beginning. The route follows the palace’s transformation from civic fortress to Medici residence.
The Hall of the Five Hundred
Created in 1494 for the Great Council, the hall was raised and transformed by Vasari for Cosimo I. Battles, gold leaf, a coffered ceiling and the duke’s apotheosis surround the visitor. Leonardo and Michelangelo were commissioned here to create the Battle of Anghiari and the Battle of Cascina, both left unfinished. Michelangelo’s Genius of Victory still preserves the force of that extraordinary period.
The Studiolo of Francesco I
Small, private and windowless, the Studiolo held precious objects and natural wonders. Its paintings connect the four elements with human activities and the grand duke’s collecting.
The apartments and Eleonora of Toledo’s Chapel
The Apartments of the Terrestrial and Celestial Gods form a dialogue with the duchess’s quarters. In her private chapel, Bronzino transforms the Stories of Moses into a refined political and spiritual programme.
Gualdrada, the Priors’ Chapel and the Audience Chamber
Giovanni Stradano’s views of Florence, the da Maiano workshops’ wooden ceilings, doors depicting Dante and Petrarch and Francesco Salviati’s frescoes complete the civic and Medici narrative.
The Hall of Lilies and the Map Room
The Hall of Lilies contains Ghirlandaio’s frescoes and Donatello’s Judith, one of the works that naturally connects Palazzo Vecchio with the Bargello Museum. In the Map Room, Ignazio Danti and Stefano Buonsignori transformed the Guardaroba cabinets into a representation of the world in the second half of the sixteenth century.
INFORMATION UPDATED AUGUST 2026
Opening hours, tickets and visit duration
Information checked on 5 August 2026. Opening hours may change because of ceremonies, institutional events or weather conditions: always check the official pages before purchasing tickets.
01
Museum
Open 9:00 am–7:00 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; Thursday 9:00 am–2:00 pm. The ticket office closes one hour earlier.
02
Tickets
Museum: full price €18; reduced price €12 for visitors aged 18–25 and university students; free admission up to the age of 17. Arnolfo Tower: full price €20; reduced price €13.
03
Arnolfo Tower
Open 9:00 am–5:00 pm on regular opening days and 9:00 am–2:00 pm on Thursday. The tower may close in case of rain.
04
Duration and groups
Allow around two hours for the interiors. Standard groups may include no more than 25 people, guide included; no more than 10 people at a time may join the Secret Passages tour.
Note: Palazzo Vecchio is still the seat of Florence City Council, and some rooms may be temporarily unavailable for institutional reasons. The tower and other areas may close in case of rain or a red-level heat alert. The archaeological excavations can be visited on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:00 noon and 12:45 pm on guided tours for groups of up to 15 people; the ticket costs €5. Times and availability may change: always check the official website.
PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA
Where Palazzo Vecchio is located
Palazzo Vecchio stands in Piazza della Signoria, in the heart of the historic centre, beside the Loggia dei Lanzi and the Uffizi.
The visit can be combined with the square, Santa Croce or an itinerary devoted to the Medici and Giorgio Vasari. To compare it with other routes, explore the page dedicated to museums in Florence.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about visiting Palazzo Vecchio
Are Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo della Signoria the same building?
Yes. Palazzo Vecchio is the same building that was known over the centuries as the Palace of the Priors, Palazzo della Signoria and Palazzo di Piazza. Its present name became established after the Medici court moved to Pitti Palace.
How long does a guided tour take?
A complete guided tour of the interiors normally lasts around two hours. The piazza, tower or special routes require additional time.
What should I not miss?
The Hall of the Five Hundred, the Studiolo of Francesco I, Eleonora’s Chapel, the Hall of Lilies and the Map Room.
Can I climb the Arnolfo Tower?
Yes, with a separate ticket and subject to opening hours, weather conditions and safety restrictions.
Is the visit suitable for children?
Yes. Symbols, maps, myths, battles and secret rooms make it possible to create an engaging route adapted to the children’s ages.
Is the admission ticket included in the guide service?
No. Tickets, reservations and special activities are separate from the guide fee.
Is Palazzo Vecchio still Florence’s town hall?
Yes. The palace houses the museum and remains the civic and institutional seat of the city.
PRIVATE AND PERSONALISED TOUR
Discover Palazzo Vecchio with Giulia
Please indicate the date, number of participants, ages of any children, preferred language and time available. Giulia will design a visit combining civic history, art and court life.
Please indicate the date, number of participants, preferred language, ages of any children and whether you are interested in the interiors, the tower, Piazza della Signoria or the Secret Passages.
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