May 27, 2014 ,
Tuesday
Palazzo Pitti
We were at Palazzo Pitti at 8 am taking the bus.
Pitti Palace is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. The core dates from 1458 and was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker, a principal supporter and friend of Cosimo de' Medici.
Pitti is alleged to have instructed that the windows be larger than the entrance of the Palazzo Medici. The rusticated stonework gives the palazzo a severe and powerful atmosphere, reinforced by the three-times-repeated series of seven arch-headed apertures, reminiscent of a Roman aqueduct. Work stopped after Pitti suffered financial losses following the death of Cosimo de' Medici in 1464. Luca Pitti died in 1472 with the building unfinished
The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. It grew as a great treasure house as later generations amassed paintings, plates, jewelry and luxurious possession
Pitti is alleged to have instructed that the windows be larger than the entrance of the Palazzo Medici. The rusticated stonework gives the palazzo a severe and powerful atmosphere, reinforced by the three-times-repeated series of seven arch-headed apertures, reminiscent of a Roman aqueduct. Work stopped after Pitti suffered financial losses following the death of Cosimo de' Medici in 1464. Luca Pitti died in 1472 with the building unfinished
The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. It grew as a great treasure house as later generations amassed paintings, plates, jewelry and luxurious possession
The principal palazzo block is 32,000 sq m. It is divided into several principal galleries or museums as listed on this board
The Palatine Gallery, on the first floor of the piano nobile, contains a large ensemble of over 500 principally Renaissance paintings. The Palatine Gallery has 28 rooms
Royal Apartments is a suite of 14 rooms, formerly used by the Medici family.
Royal Apartments is a suite of 14 rooms, formerly used by the Medici family.
The art treasures are amazing... crystal, amber, ivory, coral , you name it, they have it
Exquisite crystal here...
Turqoise...
Amber and ivory...
Ivory powder horn...
Coral artefact...
Gem studded artefacts...
Mother of pearl...
Boboli Gardens
These Gardens, behind the Pitti Palace Tuscany
at Florence , are the first formal
16th-century Italian gardens. They were laid out for Eleonora di Toledo,
the wife of Cosimo I de' Medici, never used for entertainment.
The primary axis, centered on the rear façade of the palace, rises on Boboli Hill from a deep amphitheater that is shaped like one half of a classical hippodrome or racecourse.
At the center of the amphitheater is the Egyptian obelisk brought from the Villa Medici at
The style incorporated longer axial developments, wide gravel avenues, a considerable "built" element of stone, lavish statues and fountains, and classical accents: grottos, nympheums, garden temple
The porcelain museum is exquisite too...
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Then we made our way to Basilica
di Santa Croce
Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross).
It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 m south-east of the Duomo.
It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini,
The Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world.
Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto (who built the Duomo's bell tower) and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs.
Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto (who built the Duomo's bell tower) and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs.
This is Michelangelo's tomb...
This is Galileo's tomb...
As usual we went back to the Piazza, enjoyed the music and
ambiance and called it a day
http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/05/florence-trip-report-day-5-pisa-piazza.html
covers our day 5: Day trip to Pisa, Piazza Michelangelo , San Miniato al Monte and Santa Maria Novella Basilica
http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/05/florence-trip-report-day-5-pisa-piazza.html
covers our day 5: Day trip to Pisa, Piazza Michelangelo , San Miniato al Monte and Santa Maria Novella Basilica
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