Pitti Palace: The Royal Palace of Florence

The Pitti Palace - Palazzo Nuovo, as opposed to the Palazzo Vecchio, is where the Medici and later the Lorraine, Grand-Dukes made their home. During a 5-years period when Florence was the Capital of Italy, the king of Italy lived there too. This impressive building now houses beautiful museums, and the best that is on offer is the Palatine Gallery, a private grand-ducal collection of painting.

We would need a full day to do justice to the whole ensemble. During this 3-hour visit we will see painitngs by Raphael, Caravaggio, Botticelli, Titian and others, housed at the Palatine Gallery. The frescoes and mural paintings decorate the rooms themselves, tromple l'oeil works by the great masters of the Baroque period in Florence, making the impression of the Palace overwhelming. Semi-precious decoration is also to be found here, with many fine inlaid items on display.

The tour also includes a walk through the Royal Apartments, where the Kings of Italy lived, and a museum of Treasures, situated at the left wing of the Palace, the summer residence of Grand-ducal family, which now contains "rare and precious objects" from the Grand-ducal collections.

The tour lasts 3 hours and tickets are not included. During the high season it is recommended to book the tickets in advance. Being a private visit, the tour can be tailored to suit your wishes. The guide will do the booking for you - please advise the time and the pick-up point, when reserving the tour.