Palazzo Vecchio
Open today 14:00–19:00
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What's on here
LA CURA DELL’ARTE: IL PROGETTO BEWE
Friday, 11:00Free
LA CURA DELL’ARTE: IL PROGETTO BEWE
Friday, 11:00Free
LA CURA DELL’ARTE: IL PROGETTO BEWE
Saturday, 11:00Free
I leoni di Firenze
Until 18 Jan 2027
Il leone come simbolo dell’identità fiorentina
Until 18 Jan 2027
Why go
- The Salone dei Cinquecento has 39 ceiling panels celebrating Cosimo I and Florence.
- Michelangelo’s marble group The Genius of Victory stands in the great hall.
- Francesco’s secret studiolo has a peep-hole into the Salone dei Cinquecento.
Plan your visit
Opening times
From the venue's website · checked 27 Oct 2026
Good to know
Don't miss
- Eleonora’s ChapelBronzino’s Crossing the Red Sea decorates Eleonora’s private chapel.Eleonora’s private chapel
- Old ChancelleryMachiavelli worked here as Secretary of the Republic. A terracotta bust and portrait by Santi di Tito recall him.Old Chancellery
- First-courtyard fountainThe fountain carries a copy of Verrocchio’s Boy with a Fish; the original is displayed inside the palace.First courtyard
Know before you go
- Museum visits may be partly or fully closed during institutional events and meetings.
- The mayor uses the first-floor Quartieri monumentali as offices and reception rooms; they are closed to the public.
What's inside
- Vasari’s staircase leads to the second-floor apartments of the Elements, Priori and Eleonora of Toledo. The Elements apartments have five rooms and two loggias.
- The Room of the Elements has allegorical frescoes of water, fire and earth, with Saturn on the ceiling.
- The Hercules Room has Hercules-themed ceiling paintings and tapestries, plus an ebony cabinet inlaid with semi-precious stones.
- The Room of Cybele has a ceiling showing Cybele and the Four Seasons; its floor dates to 1556.
- The Audience Chamber has a gold-laminated coffered ceiling made by Giuliano da Maiano between 1470 and 1476.
- The former armoury is used for temporary exhibitions and events.
- Remains of a Roman theatre survive beneath the palace.
Tips for your visit
- The museum ticket office and shop are in the second courtyard, Cortile della Dogana.
- The pillars in Cortile della Dogana support the Salone dei Cinquecento above.
Best time to visit
- In October, opening hours are 09:00–14:00.
Interesting facts6
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The Sala del Mappamondo has painted world maps on its cabinet doors and two globes by Egnazio Danti, each 210 cm in diameter.
Palazzo Vecchio - Wikipedia -
The mezzanine is the palace’s only area where the original 14th- and 15th-century ceilings remain entirely visible.
Palazzo Vecchio - Wikipedia -
Bachiacca’s paintings in a small mezzanine room depict birds, animals, fish and plants.
Palazzo Vecchio - Wikipedia -
The tower has three bells; the oldest was cast in the 13th century.
Palazzo Vecchio - Wikipedia -
A lion-shaped weather vane tops the tower; a copy of the original is displayed on the ground floor.
Palazzo Vecchio - Wikipedia -
1435
The tower’s cells held Cosimo de’ Medici in 1435 and Girolamo Savonarola in 1498.
Palazzo Vecchio - Wikipedia
Shorts
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View of Florence from Palazzo Vecchio TowerCésar PT
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Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria 🇮🇹 FlorenceJust Walking Around
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The Hidden Passageways of Palazzo VecchioHidden Cities
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View from The Arnolfo Tower in Florence. Palazzo VecchioHistory By Lynny
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Why You Must Visit Palazzo Vecchio - Don't Miss OutViaTravelers
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Palazzo Vecchio in FlorenceRocky Ruggiero
History
The palace was built to protect Florence’s magistrates and display the city’s power. It later expanded eastward to occupy an entire city block, reaching four times its original size. In 1565, Vasari’s corridor linked it through the Uffizi and across Ponte Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti. Vasari redesigned the Salone dei Cinquecento for Cosimo I between 1555 and 1572.
- 1299Arnolfo di Cambio began construction of the palace on the site of two palaces owned by the Uberti family.
- 1302It became the seat of the Signoria and the Gonfaloniere di Giustizia.
- 1342–1343Gualtieri VI di Brienne enlarged the building and gave it a fortress-like appearance.
- 1494Construction began on the Salone dei Cinquecento for the Republic’s 500-member Grand Council.
- 1503Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo received commissions for great-hall murals, but neither work was completed.
Show all
- 1540Cosimo I moved the government seat here and commissioned major renovations.
- 1565The palace took the name Palazzo Vecchio after the Medici residence moved to Palazzo Pitti.
- 1865–1871It served as the provisional government seat of united Italy while Florence was the temporary capital.
- 1872The palace became Florence’s town hall alongside its museum role.
Photo spots
- Terrace of SaturnThe view looks southeast toward Piazzale Michelangelo and the Fortress Belvedere.Terrace of SaturnDaylight On the map
Tours and audio guides
- Percorsi segreti tours
- Up to 10 people at a time
- Multaka guided tours
- Arabic · free For refugees and migrants; led by specially trained Arabic-speaking guides.
Sources: Palazzo Vecchio - Wikipedia · Museo di Palazzo Vecchio | Cultura · Palazzo Vecchio - Wikipedia · Palazzo Vecchio - Wikipedia · Palazzo Vecchio - Wikipedia · checked 6 Oct 2026
- Phone
- +390550541450
Questions and answers
What are Palazzo Vecchio’s opening hours in October?
Palazzo Vecchio is open 09:00–14:00 in October.
Is Palazzo Vecchio free to visit?
The Tracce di Firenze section on the ground floor is free to visit.
Is the David outside Palazzo Vecchio the original?
No. The original moved to the Accademia in 1873. A replica has stood at the entrance since 1910.
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