The Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence. It was originally called the Palazzo della Signoria, after the Signoria of Florence, who were the ruling body of the Republic of Florence. It has served as government seat for numerous leaders, including the Duke of Athens. From 1540 to 1550 it was the home of Cosimo I de' Medici, who also enlarged the palace.
The name was officially changed after Cosimo moved to the Pitti Palace, renaming his former palace the Palazzo Vecchio, the "Old Palace", although the adjacent town square, the Piazza della Signoria, still bears the old name. He also moved the seat of government to the Uffizi. Although much of the Palazzo Vecchio is now a museum, it remains the symbol of local government, and still houses the office of the mayor of Florence.
The building is attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio who began constructing it in 1299, incorporating the ancient tower of the Foraboschi into its facade. It is the result of three successive building stages between the 13th-16th centuries, the actual construction of Arnolfo's palace, overlooking the square and placed next to the Loggia dei Lanzi. After the death of Arnolfo in 1302, the palace was finished by other artists in 1314. The solid cubicle shaped building is enhanced by the simple tower with its Lederle clock.
At one time, it housed the statue of David by Michelangelo.
Remodelled in 1470 by Michelozzo. High around the courtyard are crests of the Church and City Guilds. In the center, the fountain with a winged boy, a copy of the orginal by Verrocchio, now on the second floor. The columns, a one time smooth, and untouched, were decorated with colored stucco designs in the 16th century. The frescoes on the walls, representing scenes of the Austrian cities, were painted for the wedding celebration of Francesco, the son of Cosimo I and Johanna of Austria. In the niche, in front of the fountain, "Samson and Philistine" by Pierino da Vinci.
The second courtyard contains the massive pillars built in 1494 to sustain the great "Salone dei Cinquecento" on the second floor.
The third courtyard was used mainly for offices of the city. Between the first and second courtyard the massive and monumental stairs by Vasari lead up to the "Salone dei Cinquecento".
It was built in 1494 by Simone del Pollaiuolo, called "il Cronaca" (The Chronicle), on commision of Savonarola who, replacing Medici after his exile as the spiritual leader of the Republic, wanted it as a seat of the Grand Council consisting of 500 members. Later, under Cosimo I, the Hall was enlarged by Vasari. During this transformation famous works were lost inlcuding the "battle of Cascina" by Michelangelo, and the "battle of Anghiari" by Leonardo, with which the artists were supposed to decorate the walls of the room. When Florence was the capital of Italy, representatives held their mettings there. On the walls are large and expansive frescoes by Vasari and his helpers (1550-1570), that depict: "The taking of Sienna", "The Conquest of Porto Ercole", "The victory of Cosimo I at Marciano in Val di Chiana", "Defeat of the Pisans at the Tower of Saint Vincenzo", "Maximillian of Austria attempts the conquest of Leghorn", "Pisa attacked by the Florentine Troops", The ceiling consists of 34 panels also constructed by Vasari and his assistants, representing "episodes from the life of Cosimo I" and towards the center is the "scene of his glorification as Grand Duke of Florence and Tuscany"
On the north side of the Hall, illuminated by enormous windows, is the raised stage called the "Udienza", built by Cosimo I to receive citizens and ambassadors. Above are frescoes of historical events; among these, that of Boniface VIII receiving the ambassadors of foreign States and , seeing that were all Florentines said these famous words, "You Florentines are the quintessence". In the niches are sculptures by Bandinelli: in the center that of "Leo X", and on the right a statue of "Charles V crowned by Clement VII". There are also numerous Medicean tapestries on the walls, including "Stories of the life of St.John the Baptist", taken from the frescoes of Andrea del Sarto.
The statues that represent the "Labors of Hercules" are by Vincenzo de' Rossi, a pupil of Bandinelli. In the niche at the south of the Hall is Michelangelo's famous "Victory", orginally intended for the tomb of Julius II. It was given the name after World War I to celebrate victory. The statue was taken from the Bargello Museum.
The second floor contains the Chapel of Signoria, the Hall of Justice ("Sala delle Udienze"), the Room of the Lilies, the Study Room and the Appartments of the Elements.
Decorated by Vasari and helpers, representing in the walls in the Room of the Elements, "Allegories of Water, Fire and Earth" and, on the ceiling, representing "Saturn".
So called because of the ceiling motif, with it's Florentine roof.From there one can see Piazzale Michelangelo and the Fortress Belvedere. One can also see the remains of the Church of Saint Pietro Scheraggio.
The room gets it's name from the subject of the paintings on the ceiling. Also the tapestries show stories of Hercules. The room contains a "Madonna and Child" and an ebony cabinet called a stipo inlaid with semi-precious stones.
The room is named for the fresco on the ceiling. On the walls are Florentine tapestries made from cartoons by Stradano (XIV century).
On the ceiling, the "Triumph of Cybele" and the "Four Seasons". Against the walls are cabinets in tortoise shell and bronze. The floor was made in 1556. From the window one can see the third courtyard.
The room gets it's name from the motif on the ceiling, by Doceno, a pupil of Vasari. On the walls are Florentine tapestries with hunting scenes, from cartoons by Stradano.
Called the Green Room because of the color of the walls. With decorations on the ceiling by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio. On the right is the Chapel frescoed by Bronzino (1564) with the "Stories of Moses". Also by Bronzino is the large Pietà on the altar. The small door in the room indicates the beginning of the passageway built by Vasari with orders from Cosimo I to the Pitti Palace.
It was named because of the ceiling decoration. At one time it was used for the Ladies-in- waiting at the court of Eleanor de Toledo. It contains portraits of Medici Princes by Susterman, statues by a Florentine art school and a tapestry by Fevère.
On the ceiling is the Coronation of Esther decorated by Stradano, with an inscription in honor of Eleanor of Toledo. The room contains a lavabo and two tapestries by Van Assel representing Spring and Autumn.
On the ceiling Penelope at the loom, in the frieze, episodes from the Odyssey. On the walls: Madonna and Child and a Madonna and Child with St.John by Botticelli.
Originally called the '"Room of Gualdrada"' from the subject of the ceiling painting. Against the wall is a cabinet with Florentine mosaic designs.
Dedicated to St.Bernard and containing a reliquary of the Saint. The painting, the Annunciation is by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio, who also frescoed the walls imitating mosaic. On the altar is a painting representing the Holy Family by Mariono da Pescia.
The Hall of Justice. The carved ceiling, laminated with pure gold, is by Benedetto da Maiano. On the portal of the Chapel is an inscription in honor of Christ (1529). The frescoes on the walls, of a decorative value representing "Stories of Camillus", by Fransesco Salviati. The doors, intarsied with the figures of Dante and Petrarch, by Giuliano da Maiano.
The carved ceiling, decorated with fleur-de-lys, and the Statue of St.John the Bapist and Putti are all by Benedetto da Maiano. On the wall is the fresco by Domenico Ghirlandaio who represented, Brutus, Muzio Scevola, St.Zanobius between Saints Lorenzo and Stephen, Scipone and Cicero.
This was Macchiavelli's office when he was Secretary of the Republic. His bust in terracotta and his portrait are by Santi di Tito. In the center of the room, on the pedestal is the famous Winged Boy by Verrocchio, brought to this room from the First Courtyard.
The Wardrobe is where the Medici Grand Dukes kept there precious belongings. The cupboards and carved ceiling are by Dionigi Nigetti. On the doors of the cupboards, 53 maps of scientific interest, painted by Fra Ignazio Danti. In the center of the room is the large "mappa mundi" ruined by excessive restorations.
The room was used by Cellini to restore the treasures of the Medici princes. From the little window in the wall , Cosimo I spied on his ministers and officers, during meetings in the Salone dei Cinquecento.