Once it passed to the Medici, Dukes of Florence and then Grand Dukes of Tuscany, the old palace needed to be rebuilt, and it was Vasari’s task to transform this icon of the much-loved Republic into a symbol of the new glorious Medici monarchy. The palace was redecorated by Vasari and his assistants with new frescoes and ceilings depicting the military victories of the Medici in Tuscany (Salone dei Cinquecento), the stories of the most famous members of the family (Apartments with stories from the life of Pope Leo Vecchio, Lorenzo the Magnificent on the first floor), other stories of Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses and Allegories of the Four Elements (Apartments on the second floor). For the private use of Cosimo I’s eldest son, the future Duke Francesco I, the exquisite environment of Francesco I’s Studiolo was decorated with sophisticated paintings by Florentine mannerist artists. Bronzino, who was the favorite painter of Eleonora di Toledo, Cosimo’s wife I, decorated Duchess Eleonora’s private chapel with splendid mannerist frescoes, while the ceilings of the other rooms of her apartment were decorated with stories of classical heroines celebrated for “equaling the virtues of men”, by Vasari’s assistants. The magnificent Hall of Geographical Maps which concludes the visit is a magnificent environment with cabinets specially made in the 16th century to contain maps from all over the world and represents an extraordinary document of the cartographic knowledge of the world in the mid-16th century.

Palazzo Vecchio is one of the best places in Florence to visit with children and teenagers.

This is why we at Artours organize special tours of Palazzo Vecchio for children and families!