Palazzo Pitti in Florence

Situated in Piazza Pitti in Florence, Palazzo Pitti is an ancient royal palace which was once residence to Grand Dukes of Tuscany and successively to the Italian king. Today, the palace is a cultural centre home to six different attractions: the Palatina Gallery, the Modern Art Gallery, Costume Gallery, the Silver Museum, the Porcelain Museum and the Boboli gardens.

The best way to visit the palace is by starting at Palatina Gallery on the noble floor, situated in the left wing of the building, where works by Renaissance artists such as Raffaello, Caravaggio and Tiziano are on display. In the right wing of the building are located the royal quarters furnished in period pieces origination from 1500 – 1800.

On the second floor is located the Modern Art Gallery home to mainly Italian paintings and sculptures, dating back to the eighteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century (among these are a gathering of works by the so-called Macchiaoli). Continuing towards the wing known as Palazzina della Meridiana is situated the Costume Gallery which holds a collection of over six thousand dresses (the oldest dating back to the sixteenth century) accessories and theatre costumes, rendering the gallery as one of the most important in the world.

Returning to the ground floor going towards the Mezzanino di Palazzo Pitti is situated the Silver Museum (Museo degli Argenti), which displays a significant collection of jewellery dating back to the XVII and XX century. Heading towards the Palazzina del Cavaliere, situated at the top of the Boboli garden, lies the Porcelain museum which is home some of the most precious porcelain made in Europe.

To conclude the visit you cannot miss a tour of the Boboli gardens: the historic park which stretches over an area of 45, 000 square metres is a monumental example of Italian gardens, embellished with ancient statues, grottoes and enormous fountain.