Florence  (Tuscany): pop. 493,000 [ MAP ] 

Palazzo Pitti : Attributed to Brunelleschi (1458) this is the most important monumental building of Florence. It was the residence of Medici’s family and nowadays is the seat of many museums of Florence : Palatine Gallery; Appartamenti Reali; Modern Art Gallery; Silverware Museum; Costume Gallery and Chinaware Museum.

Palatine Gallery preserves several works of art by Raffaello, Andrea del Sarto, Tiziano. Of note is the “Room of Venere” that houses the marble statue of the “Venere Italica” (Italian Venus) by Antonio Canova and four masterpieces by Tiziano. Other nice works by: Rubens, Van Dyck, Tintoretto, Veronese, Raffaello, Giorgione, Bronzino, Perugino, Caravaggio, Botticelli, Luca Signorelli, Beccafumi.

Appartamenti Reali : They make up a complex of richly decorated rooms, that have been the residence of Lorena and Medici’s Families

Modern Art Gallery : It is hosted on the second floor and offers a complete overview of Italian paintings from neoclassicism to the 20th century. It consists of 30 rooms where are on display works of the 19th and 20th century. Works of Sansone, Hayez, Giovanni Fattori, etc.

Silverware museum : It preserves a rich collection of precious metals and semi-precious stones, crystals and ivory works.

Costume Gallery: It displays samples of historical clothes dating back from 1700 to 1900.

Chinaware museum: It exhibits porcelains by: “Real Fabbrica di Napoli”, “Ginori di Doccia” , “Sevrès”, “Chantilly”, “Vienna” and many more.