The Pitti Palace in Florence is a stunning masterpiece of Renaissance architecture and a must-see for any lover of art and history. The palace’s rich history and significance make it an essential visit for anyone touring Florence.
In this article, we will explore the history and architecture of this magnificent palace.
Early History
Luca Pitti, a wealthy Florentine banker, commissioned the Pitti Palace in 1458 as his home. He hired several famous architects to design the palace, including Brunelleschi, who passed away before the completion of the project.
The palace’s final design is a blend of Roman-style architecture and arch-headed apertures, all of which are evident in the palace’s stunning faade.
The Medici Family
Shortly after the palace’s completion, Luca Pitti lost his fortune, and the palace passed into the hands of the magnificent Medici family, who used it as their primary residence. Eleonora di Toledo, the wife of Cosimo I, oversaw several extensions, including the construction of the Vasari Corridor, a walkway connecting the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti.
The Boboli Gardens behind the Palace showcase several sculptures from the Medicis collection, and the amphitheater therein is a reflection of the Roman theater that inspired the design of the gardens.
Further Extensions
The palace underwent several other extensions under the Medici family’s management, including a westward expansion. Bernardo Buontalenti was the leading architect behind this expansion, and he worked with Niccol Tribolo to construct the exterior faade and interior courtyard.
Bartolommeo Ammanati, Giulio Parigi, Alfonso Parigi, and Giuseppe Ruggeri also contributed to the palace’s construction. Further, Palazzo Pitti watches over the city, and people can see it from several of Florence’s lookouts.
Architecture of the Pitti Palace
The palace’s architecture is a blend of Renaissance and Roman styles, that displays its majesty for all to see. The palace’s original design by Luca Fancelli included arch-headed apertures, which were later modified by the Medici family.
The Medici family commissioned the construction of the Boboli Gardens and the surrounding property behind the palace. It is believed that the amphitheater in the gardens was inspired by Terence’s Andria, a play performed during the height of the Roman Empire.
Baldassarre Lanci, the palaces architect, designed the initial layout of the gardens near the amphitheater.
Art Galleries
Today, the palace is home to several art galleries, including the Palatine Gallery, displaying some of the finest pieces of art by the famous Italian and European artists, including works by Giorgio Vasari, Pietro da Cortona, and Ciro Ferri. In conclusion, the Pitti Palace speaks to the history and grandeur of Florence.
Visitors can see and experience significant pieces of Renaissance architecture and art and the influence of the Medici family that looms majestically over the city. Indeed, it remains one of the must-visits sites in Florence, delivering timelessness and beauty like few others places can.
3) The Palazzo Pitti’s Restoration and Use
The Palazzo Pitti has not remained untouched through the centuries. The palace has undergone several renovations and changes in ownership, with significant transformations during the House of Lorraine’s reign in the eighteenth century.
The Savoy family took possession of the palace following the Unification of Italy in 1860 when the Kingdom of Italy was formed. During this transfer of power, there were significant efforts to restore the palace to its former glory.
Dedication to the Country
The Palace has changed ownership multiple times over the years, but it retains its status as one of Italy’s finest cultural sites. One restoration effort that stands out is when Victor Emmanuel III decided to dedicate the Palace to Italian citizens and transferred many art objects to the Accademia Gallery in Florence.
This move aimed to display the objects to a wider audience, thereby increasing their cultural significance.
Interior and Artifacts
The Palace interior offers exciting attractions beyond the exterior’s beautiful facade. The Throne Room houses a magnificent display of the Lorraine family’s pampered lifestyle.
The Palazzo Pitti does not just showcase grandeur in its regal halls; the Palace also features lost 18th-century bathrooms inspired by Swiss and Parisian styles. The inside of the Palace boasts of some of Italy’s finest artworks, including Paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects from the Medici family, Strozzi family, and the Lorraine family.
Indeed, the ceiling frescoes are some of the most astonishing works of art and reiterate the Palace’s significance in Florentine history.
4) The Palatine Gallery and Its Artworks
The Palatine Gallery is a prominent feature of the Palazzo Pitti, displaying masterworks of Italian Renaissance art. The Gallery gets its name from Palatine Hill in Rome, Italy.
The Gallery’s corridors contain a breathtaking collection of art by famous Italian and European artists, including Titian, Raphael, Perugino, Correggio, and Peter Paul Rubens. Visitors can’t help but enjoy the feel of a private collection that draws from multiple centuries.
Walking through the exhibition halls, visitors get an amazing sense of the development of art from the Renaissance to the Baroque style.
Private Collection Feel
The Gallery’s halls are organized chronologically, revealing the evolution of Italian art from the early Renaissance to the Baroque period. The halls contain paintings and sculptures that capture stunning images of a bygone era.
Visitors can’t help but feel as if they’re exploring a grand private collection, making the experience even more remarkable.
Planetary Rooms
One of the most fascinating sections of the Palatine Gallery is the
Planetary Rooms. Designed by Giuseppe Del Rosso in the 1630s, the rooms are a visual representation of Ptolemaic cosmology.
This belief system holds that the planets revolve around the Earth, where Apollo (the sun) sits high above all and the five planets visible to the unaided eye (Venus, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mercury) rotate around the ecosystem. Each room in the
Planetary Rooms is named after a planet and features stunning frescoes depicting the planet’s astrological attributes.
For instance, the Venus Room contains a painting of Venus and Adonis by Peter Paul Rubens. The room seemingly transports visitors to ancient times with its beautiful artwork and ceiling frescoes.
Conclusion
The Palazzo Pitti and the Palatine gallery are some of Florence’s most famous and breathtaking landmarks. The palace has undergone several renovations and extensions, and art lovers can find some of the most stunning and priceless works of art from the Renaissance to Baroque periods inside, with the Palatine Gallery showcasing some of the best in the world.
The planetary rooms, inspired by Ptolemaic cosmology, further add to the overall experience. All in all, the Palatine Gallery and the Palace remain one of Italy’s most outstanding cultural sites.
The Palazzo Pitti holds significant historical and cultural value in Florence, Italy. The palace has a rich history, being commissioned by Luca Pitti and passing through the hands of the Medici family before becoming the property of the Savoy family.
Renowned architects and artists have contributed to the palace’s grandeur, which has undergone significant renovation to restore its former glory, with a focus on displaying its art to a wider audience. The invaluable artworks housed in the Palatine Gallery represent the evolution of Italian art from the Renaissance to the Baroque period, with the planetary rooms providing a unique experience inspired by Ptolemaic cosmology.
The Palazzo Pitti and the Palatine Gallery remain a significant cultural and historical landmark in Italy, reminding visitors of the magnificent art and architecture from a bygone era.