Florence is known as the birthplace of the Renaissance and is a major art and cultural centre that produced some of the most talented and innovative artists, architects, writers, and thinkers of all time, as well as some of the most exceptional masterpieces. Art-lovers who want to vacation in Tuscany should definitely browse our luxury villas in Florence as the city is the perfect place for those who want to dive into an endless supply of museums, architectural gems, works of art, and more. Once you find yourself in the city, you'll be faced with the unenviable task of having to choose which attractions and cultural institutions to go and see as there are enough in the city for a lifetime of vacations. This is why we recommend a visit to the Palazzo Pitti, a lush Renaissance palace that was built for Luca Pitti but later purchased by the Medici and which went on to become their primary residence. It is today a state-owned gem that is home to several different museums including the Palatine Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, and several other gallery spaces and exhibitions. With so many great cultural institutions under one roof (or in one area), it is an ideal place to get a real taste of the incredible artistic heritage of Florence.
However, if you are also interested in design, astounding craftsmanship, and mind-boggling treasures, then we particularly suggest that you ensure you visit one of the on-site museums at the Palazzo Pitti, the Treasury of the Grand Dukes (formerly the Silver Museum). Located in a group of ground floor and mezzanine summer apartments of the palace that were painted with a series of stunning frescoes in the 17th century for the marriage between Ferdinand II de’ Medici and Vittoria della Rovere, the breathtaking physical space of the museum is worth visiting for its own merit but also acts as a spectacularly beautiful jewellery box for the hoard of treasures that are housed in the Treasury. Home to a collection of extraordinary vases, gems, cameos, pietre dure, and jewellery, in materials such as gold, silver, precious and semi-precious stones, ivory, amber, jade, and more, the Treasury of the Grand Dukes offers a great insight into the tastes and unbelievably opulent lifestyles of the Medici family who ruled Florence for much of the Renaissance and so shaped the city and its cultural heritage and the history of art. Browse our luxury villas in Florence and come see it for yourself!
Some key sections of the large and impressive collection of the Treasury of the Grand Dukes include the vases gathered by Lorenzo the Magnificent, the 16th-century jewels that belonged to Anna Maria Luisa, the ancient and Renaissance cameos and the Treasure of Salzburg (a collection of silverware that once belonged to the Bishops of Salzburg) brought to Florence by Grand Duke of Tuscany Ferdinand III in 1815, a rich collection of jewellery by prestigious European and Italian craftsmen dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries, antique oriental and European porcelain and majolica, and more. With pieces from Amsterdam to Mexico to Japan, incredible feats of craftsmanship, stunning gems, and wonderful oddities and surprises, this magnificent museum is the ideal place in which to lose yourself for a few hours and marvel at the things that human hands have made and large purses have commissioned.
So, if you are interested in art and culture and have decided to finally descend upon Florence to discover her endless gems, then be sure to browse our luxury villas in Florence and plan a vacation so that you can come and see this incredible part of Tuscany with your own eyes.
So, if you are interested in art and culture and have decided to finally descend upon Florence to discover her endless gems, then be sure to browse our luxury villas in Florence and plan a vacation so that you can come and see this incredible part of Tuscany with your own eyes.
