Page 299 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

FL ORENCE  297

Street-by-Street: Around Piazza
della Repubblica A r n o

Locator Map
See Florence Street Finder maps 5, 6
PIAZZA DELLA

REPUBBLICA

Detail of a frieze illustrating a medieval romance in Palazzo Davanzati
C A L I M A L A
y Palazzo storeys high, each floor exceeds
Davanzati the height of a normal palazzo.
It was commissioned by the
Via Porta Rossa 13. Map 3 C1 (5 C3). wealthy banker Filippo Strozzi,
Tel 055 238 86 10. Open 8:15am– who had 15 buildings
1:50pm daily. Closed 1st, 3rd & 5th demolished to make way for
Mon and 2nd and 4th Sun of the
Piazza della Repubblica, month, 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec. 8 the palazzo. He hoped it would
which dates from the 10am, 11am, noon (2nd floor only). rival the Medici palaces
19th century, is lined by elsewhere in the city. Strozzi
some of Florence’s oldest This wonderful museum, also died in 1491, just two years
and best-known cafés. known as the Museo dell’Antica after the first stone was laid.
Casa Fiorentina, uses original Work on the building con-
fittings and furniture to recreate tinued until 1536, with three
C H S O D E L L E M I S U R E
a typical well-to-do 14th- major architects contributing to
Mercato Nuovo, the century town house. Among its design – Giuliano da Sangallo,
“New Market” (1547), the highlights are the Salone Benedetto da Maiano and
now deals mainly Madornale, where large Simone del Pollaiuolo (also
in souvenirs. gatherings would have been known as Cronaca). The exterior,
held, and the Sala dei Pappagalli built of huge rusticated masonry
(Parrots Room), with its frescoes blocks, remains unspoiled. Look
and rich tapestries. out for the original Renaissance
VIA POR SANTA MARIA ceiling of the entrance rings for tethering horses that still
Pelting holes in the vaulted
torch-holders, lamps and the
courtyard were for dropping
adorn the corners and façades.
The palace is now primarily
missiles on unwanted
used as an exhibition venue,
visitors. In one corner of the
when visitors can also access “La
inner courtyard is a well and
a pulley system to raise pails
in the basement, where small
of water to each floor – a real Strozzina”, a vaulted gallery space
luxury, since most medieval temporary exhibitions are held.
Palazzo di households had to fetch water
Parte Guelfa from a public fountain.
was the
headquarters of
the Guelphs, u Palazzo Strozzi
the dominant
political party Piazza degli Strozzi. Map 3 C1 (5 C3).
of medieval Tel 055 264 51 55. Open 10am–8pm
Florence. daily (to 11pm Thu). 7 & for
exhibitions. ∑ palazzostrozzi.org
Ponte Vecchio Sheer size accounts for the
(see p289) impact of the Palazzo Strozzi Exterior of Palazzo Strozzi, with masonry
and, although it is only three block rustication
296-297_EW_Italy.indd 297 4/4/17 5:35 PM