Most town halls are non-descript buildings where bureaucratic drones work. Florence's Palazzo Vecchio is definitely not that kind of town hall. It's a work of art.
The Palazzo Vecchio was once the home of Cosimo Medici, one of history's great power brokers. Construction began on this edifice in 1299 and it was not finished until the 16th century. In the interim, it was expanded and revised so that now it is one of the world's great art storehouses. While it is a functioning city hall, most of its visitors come for the art.
Be sure to pick up a guide book to the facility. You don't want to miss any of the fascinating details about what you will see.
Among the treasures to be scene here is the Salone dei Cinquecento, once Cosimo I's grand hall. This room has some beautiful frescoes that honor his conquests. Cosimo's wife, Eleonora of Toledo's apartments also have lovely artwork as does her chapel.
Florence has a long relationship with Austria's Hapsburg dynasty. Cosimo de Medici married the sister of the Hapsburg Emperor Maximilian. References to this relationship abound in many frescos and tapestries that can be seen throughout the facility.
Florentines in the city's golden age were very interested in Greek and Roman mythology. The Hercules Room has a fabulous ceiling that depicts this mythical hero's adventures. The Jupiter room has wonderful tapestries on the walls and an imposing tribute to that deity on its ceiling. Tourists come from everywhere from the US to Benidorm Be sure to see the Room of Cybele to see beautiful cabinets of tortoise shell and bronze. The Ceres room houses many beautiful tapestries.
How many town halls do you know of that have artworks by the great masters? The Palazzo Vecchio has a replica of Michelangelo's David. Michelangelo was a Florentine and there are many tributes here to the city's most famous native son. There is also a fresco by Bronzino from the 16th century.
These are just some of the many artworks to be seen here. But if you've had your fill of art, there is still a lot to see. The courtyard has a fountain with putti and dolphins that is a delightful sight. The water for the fountain comes all the way from the Boboli Gardens, quite an impressive engineering feat. Go up to the Terrazzo di Saturno on the second floor for a wonderful view of the complex. Stop in the Sala delle Carte and see the collection of historic globes and maps painted on leather that depict the world as it was known in 1563.
Visiting Tuscany's Palazzo Vecchio can easily take an entire day, as you investigate everything from its enormous dome to its smallest corner. Your visit there will surely be your most memorable to any city hall.
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