Palazzo Pitti
Palazzo Pitti
5 minutes read•Published on 15-11-2024
The Palazzo Pitti is an important museum complex that you can find in Florence, Italy. It was built back in the late 15th century and it served as the home for many of the city's leaders until they turned it into a museum in 1919. These days, the palace contains several smaller museums that hold a large amount of art, including paintings and sculptures. One of the things the Palazzo Pitti is famous for is the Boboli Gardens, which are really quite beautiful. This place is a great example of the city's long history and its impact on the world of art and culture.
Tickets & tours
A selection of the best tours to experience the Palazzo Pitti with our partner GetYourGuide. These tours offer the best experience for visitors from all around the world.
A short history
Palazzo Pitti is a well-known palace in Florence, Italy. It is famous for having impressive art, architecture, and gardens. A rich banker from Florence, named Luca Pitti, built it in 1457. His goal was to show off his wealth and power and compete with the nearby house of the Medici family. The design of the palace was special, with big windows at the ground level, which was not common in Italian palaces of that period.
But after some time, the Pitti family ran out of money. So, in 1549, the Medici family bought the palace. The Medici family made a lot of changes to the palace, and it became a royal house. They also made the Boboli Gardens, which are among the best examples of Italian gardens today.
After the Medici family was no longer in power in the 18th century, Napoleon used the palace. After Napoleon, it became a royal palace for Italy when the country came together as one. Different people who lived there made changes to the building. One example is that Napoleon created the Palatine Gallery at the top of the palace, where he put lots of artworks.
Now, Palazzo Pitti is like a big museum. There is a lot of art, and old furniture and costumes. People can also see where the Medici family lived, which gives an idea of what life was like during the Renaissance. Each year, many tourists visit the palace and its gardens. It is one of the most-visited places in Florence. Because of its wonderful architecture and interesting history, Palazzo Pitti is an important cultural place in Italy.
One reason to visit
Boboli Gardens
If you visit the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, dont miss the chance to explore the Boboli Gardens. These gardens form an outdoor museum located behind the palace. As significant examples of Italian garden design, they are famous around the world. You can find various sculptures, fountains, and grottoes dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries in these gardens. A walk through the well-kept garden paths provides a quiet and enjoyable experience, where you can take in these remarkable artworks. In addition to the palaces indoor collections, the gardens add an extra dimension of greenery and creativity. The Boboli Gardens are indeed a vital part of what makes the Palazzo Pitti worth visiting.
Getting there
Starting from Santa Maria Novella Station, head east on Piazza della Stazione toward Piazza dell'Unità Italiana for 300m. Take a right turn onto Via degli Avelli and walk for 130m, then turn left onto Via Setaioli and continue onto Via de' Conti. Stay on Via de' Conti for 350m and turn right onto Via de' Cerretani. Continue for 100m then, at the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Piazza del Duomo. This is a significant landmark - a large square filled with notable architecture. Continue onto Via del Proconsolo and turn right onto Via de' Gondi. Then, make a left turn onto Via de' Bardi and continue for 600m. You should see great views of the city during this walk. Finally turn right onto Cross de' Mozzi, cross the river via Ponte Vecchio, and then make a slight right onto Via de' Guicciardini, and the Palazzo Pitti is on the right.
To get to the Palazzo Pitti in Florence by bike, start from Piazza del Duomo. Head southwest on Via dell'Oriuolo. Turn right onto Via dei Servi and then turn left onto Via dell'Agnolo. Stay on this road as it changes into Via Verdi and then Via dell'Ulivo. Turn right onto Via dei Serragli and then turn left onto Piazza Torquato Tasso. Continue onto Via del Campuccio and turn right onto Piazza de' Pitti. The Palazzo Pitti is on this square. The bike trip from the Duomo to Palazzo Pitti is about 2.2 km and should take around 15 minutes. Always remember to obey traffic laws and be mindful of pedestrians and vehicles on the road!
From Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station, you can take several bus services: bus D, bus 11, or bus 36. You should get off at the Pitti bus stop which is closest to the Palazzo Pitti. Alternatively, you can take the tram towards Scandicci until you reach Leopolda Porta al Prato tram stop, then take bus D and exit at Pitti bus stop. Remember to buy a ticket before getting on any public transport in Florence, as you will need to stamp it once you board. The Mus.e ticket office or any authorized sales points in the city can provide these tickets.
First, you need to set your GPS to the following address: 6, Piazza de’ Pitti, 50125 Firenze, Italy. Start on the A1 highway and take the exit Firenze Impruneta. After the toll station, continue onto SR2 then take the Via Senese and Viale del Poggio Imperiale to arrive to the Piazza de’ Pitti. Remember to follow the signs for Centro/Ponte Vecchio which will lead you to the museum. Although parking in Florence's center is limited and the area has ZTL (limited traffic zone), you can park your car in Parking Oltrarno, it's quite close to the palace. Please, keep in mind that driving in Florence if you're not familiar with the way might be quite challenging. You can avoid all this and take a taxi or bus number D from the train station.
