Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace), Florence (must see)
Just like the Cathedral complex and Florence鈥檚 world-class galleries, the Old Palace is essential for anyone wanting to grasp the city's history and cultural identity. This massive Romanesque fortress is one of the most striking town halls in all of Tuscany. Since 1872, it has served as the office of Florence鈥檚 mayor, but its legacy stretches much further back. Built in 1299, the edifice was the political heart of the Florentine Republic for centuries. When Cosimo de鈥� Medici moved in with his family in 1540 as Grand Duke, he had it expanded and transformed, blending its medieval bones with elegant Renaissance flair.
The rugged stone fa莽ade, lined with shields chronicling Florence鈥檚 political past, is also home to an impressive lineup of statues. These include Florence鈥檚 heraldic symbol鈥� the Marzocco lion, along with Donatello鈥檚 powerful 鈥淛udith and Holofernes鈥�, and 鈥淗ercules and Cacus鈥�. The nearby Tower of Arnolfo, rising above the palace, offers a climbable vantage point鈥攖hough access requires a separate ticket.
Meanwhile, inside, every room tells a chapter of the city鈥檚 history. You鈥檒l walk through the spectacular Hall of the Five Hundred, designed to glorify Medici rule, and into the more private quarters where the family lived. Decorated under the artistic direction of Giorgio Vasari, these spaces are rich in symbolism and political narrative. Give yourself time to move slowly through the rooms鈥攊t鈥檚 an immersive dive into Florentine grandeur. And be warned: you may leave with a crick in your neck from gazing.
One standout work here is Michelangelo鈥檚 鈥淕enius of Victory鈥�. Originally meant for the tomb of Pope Julius II, the sculpture depicts a young, triumphant figure standing over a defeated older man. The contrast between the two is striking鈥攖he victor is smooth and polished, the vanquished figure unfinished and rough, still bearing the weight of the stone.
You鈥檒l also come across something rather haunting鈥攁 death mask of Dante Alighieri, displayed between the Apartments of Eleanor and the Halls of the Priors. Though the poet was buried in Ravenna, this plaster cast has become a powerful reminder of his influence on Florence, both politically and culturally. Fans of Dan Brown鈥檚 鈥淚nferno鈥� will surely recognize it from the novel.
Tip: If you鈥檙e planning a guided visit, it鈥檚 best to book directly with the museum by email鈥攊nclude your preferred date and time, and wait for confirmation. Payment is made on the day of your tour, and afterward, you鈥檙e free to continue exploring on your own. Just keep in mind: because this is still a working municipal building, access may occasionally be restricted. It鈥檚 a good idea to check the official website before you go.
The rugged stone fa莽ade, lined with shields chronicling Florence鈥檚 political past, is also home to an impressive lineup of statues. These include Florence鈥檚 heraldic symbol鈥� the Marzocco lion, along with Donatello鈥檚 powerful 鈥淛udith and Holofernes鈥�, and 鈥淗ercules and Cacus鈥�. The nearby Tower of Arnolfo, rising above the palace, offers a climbable vantage point鈥攖hough access requires a separate ticket.
Meanwhile, inside, every room tells a chapter of the city鈥檚 history. You鈥檒l walk through the spectacular Hall of the Five Hundred, designed to glorify Medici rule, and into the more private quarters where the family lived. Decorated under the artistic direction of Giorgio Vasari, these spaces are rich in symbolism and political narrative. Give yourself time to move slowly through the rooms鈥攊t鈥檚 an immersive dive into Florentine grandeur. And be warned: you may leave with a crick in your neck from gazing.
One standout work here is Michelangelo鈥檚 鈥淕enius of Victory鈥�. Originally meant for the tomb of Pope Julius II, the sculpture depicts a young, triumphant figure standing over a defeated older man. The contrast between the two is striking鈥攖he victor is smooth and polished, the vanquished figure unfinished and rough, still bearing the weight of the stone.
You鈥檒l also come across something rather haunting鈥攁 death mask of Dante Alighieri, displayed between the Apartments of Eleanor and the Halls of the Priors. Though the poet was buried in Ravenna, this plaster cast has become a powerful reminder of his influence on Florence, both politically and culturally. Fans of Dan Brown鈥檚 鈥淚nferno鈥� will surely recognize it from the novel.
Tip: If you鈥檙e planning a guided visit, it鈥檚 best to book directly with the museum by email鈥攊nclude your preferred date and time, and wait for confirmation. Payment is made on the day of your tour, and afterward, you鈥檙e free to continue exploring on your own. Just keep in mind: because this is still a working municipal building, access may occasionally be restricted. It鈥檚 a good idea to check the official website before you go.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Florence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) on Map
Sight Name: Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Florence, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Florence
Creating your own self-guided walk in Florence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Dante's Florence Walking Tour
Dante Alighieri was arguably the greatest 鈥� albeit also most controversial 鈥� of Italy's poets. After having served as one of the six priors governing Florence, his political activities 鈥� including the banishing of several rivals 鈥� led to his own banishment, upon which he wrote his masterpiece, 鈥淭he Divine Comedy鈥�, as a wanderer, seeking protection for his family in one town after... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Florence Introduction Walking Tour
Florence was founded in 59 BC by Julius Caesar as a settlement for his veteran soldiers. Laid out like a Roman military camp, its main roads intersected at what is now the Republic Square. Originally named Fluentia, referencing its location between two rivers, the city later adopted the name Florentia, meaning 鈥渇lowering鈥� or 鈥渇lourishing鈥�.
And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Arno South Bank Walking Tour
The area south of the Arno River鈥攌nown as Oltrarno, or 鈥淏eyond the Arno鈥濃�攐ffers a quieter, more intimate side of Florence, but one that鈥檚 no less captivating. It鈥檚 here that you鈥檒l find the grand Pitti Palace, home to a painting collection rivaled only by the Uffizi Gallery, and the expansive Boboli Gardens, once the private domain of the Medici and later, the royal family. As one of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Florence Food Tour
Food is one of the great Florentine passions, and the great thing about having a delicious authentic Tuscan meal, a snack, delicatessen, or a quality gelato here 鈥� besides the abundant variety 鈥� is not having to spend a lot of money for it.
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
In Galileo's Footsteps
Galileo Galilei鈥攂orn in Pisa in 1564鈥攕pent much of his life in and around Florence, where some of the most defining moments of his revolutionary career unfolded. A genius of many talents鈥攑hysicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor鈥攈e helped usher in the scientific revolution and reshape humanity鈥檚 understanding of the universe. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, became a... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Michelangelo's Masterpieces Walking Tour
Though born in the small Tuscan town of Caprese, Michelangelo spent over two decades of his life in Florence鈥攖he heart of the Renaissance. It was here that he grew up, was educated, and began shaping his artistic voice, eventually creating some of the most iconic masterpieces the city has ever known.
His larger-than-life work鈥斺�淒avid鈥濃�攄idn鈥檛 just reshape the image of biblical... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
His larger-than-life work鈥斺�淒avid鈥濃�攄idn鈥檛 just reshape the image of biblical... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
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