Palazzo Vecchio private tour in Florence
Palazzo Vecchio is one of the most beautiful and important palaces of Florence. Built in the late 1200s and extended several times in the Renaissance, it has been the heart of public and political life in Florence for over 700 years. Before telling you more about my Palazzo Vecchio private guided tour, let me give some info about this building.
Palazzo Vecchio was built in the Middle Ages for the Republic of Florence, as a government palace. In 1500, when the Medici became the lords of Florence, Palazzo Vecchio also became the residence of the family of Cosimo I de ‘Medici, before they bought Palazzo Pitti and moved there.
Palazzo Vecchio is still the heart of political life in Florence today, because it’s the town hall, where the mayor’s office is located and where the city council meets. But Palazzo Vecchio is also a wonderful museum to visit, where you can admire masterpieces of art and original decorations from the 1400s and 1500s.
I’m Claudia, a licensed local tour guide of Florence, with more than 10 years of experience! Learn more about my private tours in Florence and get in contact with me.
What to see in Palazzo Vecchio
The Palazzo Vecchio museum is one of the things not to be missed in Florence if you love the art and history of the Renaissance. You will be able to see the magnificent frescoes from the 1500s that decorate the rooms where Cosimo I lived with his family, dedicated to Roman gods such as Jupiter, Venus and Uranus.
The most important room of the palace is the Hall of the Five Hundreds, with the giant and stunning frescos by Giorgio Vasari. Also the magnificent ceiling with paintings and wooden frames is still made by Vasari. In the Hall of the Five Hundreds you can also see Michelangelo’s famous sculpture the Genius of Victory. But I also recommend you not to miss the Hall of Maps, with the gorgeous painted maps of all the lands of the known world at the time, and which has recently been restored.
One of my favorite rooms is the Sala dei Gigli, the hall of the lilies, which is the only room that still retains the original decorations of the 1400s, dating back to the era of the Republic of Florence. This room is also housing the famous statue of Donatello Judith and Holophernes.
Another masterpiece of fifteenth-century sculpture is the lovely putto with dolphin by Andrea Verrocchio, the master of Leonardo da Vinci.
- Learn more about the Baptism of Christ, painted by Leonardo and Verrocchio together.
Climb to the tower of Palazzo Vecchio
The tower of Palazzo Vecchio is called Torre di Arnolfo, named after its designer, the great medieval architect Arnolfo di Cambio, who designed the palace starting from 1299. The tower is 95 meters high, and to reach the top you have to climb over 200 steps. But from here you can enjoy a stunning view over the red rooftops of Florence and the Duomo.
Halfway up the tower you can also visit the Alberghetto, the cell where in 1400 both Cosimo the Old from the Medici and the controversial friar Girolamo Savonarola were held prisoners.
To climb the tower of Palazzo Vecchio, you will need a different ticket, other than then one for the museum. A combined museum + tower ticket is also available.
To book museum and tower tickets use the official website of the Florentine Civic Museums. Any other website is a re-seller and will overcharge the price of the tickets.
Palazzo Vecchio private guided tour
As a local licensed tour guide in Florence I am giving a private guided tour of Palazzo Vecchio. The standard guided tour of the museum lasts 1 hour and half. In addition to the history of the building, also covers all the most important rooms and artworks.
With a guided tour you will be sure to know every detail of this place and its history, without wasting time. And you can ask me all the questions you want!
If you want I can also come up with you to the top of the tower. This will add 30 extra minutes to the guided tour and a lot of extra info.
Info about the Palazzo Vecchio private tour:
- Duration: 1.5 hours for the museum (30 extra minutes for the tower)
- Meeting point: in piazza della Signoria
- Included: your local licensed tour guide
- Not included: tickets for the museum
You can easily pair this private guided tour of Palazzo Vecchio with:
Note: I can take care of the reservation for your skip the line tickets (recommended in high season), so you will only have to enjoy the visit. Please be aware that in this case I will ask for a downpayment. I can also help you to book the tickets by your own.
Feel free to contact me to get more info about this tour, prices and to book your private tour using the form below:
