Forte di Belvedere
Medici fortress by Buontalenti from the late 16th century, with panoramic terraces over Florence and a venue for contemporary art exhibitions.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Forte di Belvedere is one of the most remarkable architectural works in Florence and one of the city's most panoramic points. It was built at the end of the 16th century by Bernardo Buontalenti, with Don Giovanni de' Medici, at the wish of Grand Duke Ferdinando I, and represents the final stage of the Corridoio Vasariano, the route that linked Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti and the Giardino di Boboli. The first stone was laid in 1590 behind the Giardino di Boboli, on the highest point of the walled circuit.
The fortress has a distinctive star-shaped plan with five bastions; it incorporated a pre-existing small palace, which became the command centre, and beneath it an armoured strongroom was built to keep the state treasure. For centuries the fort had a military function without suffering any attacks, and it remained under military ownership until 1954, when it passed to civil state ownership and was recovered as a great terrace over the city.
The fort's exhibition vocation began in the second half of the 20th century, with open-air sculpture exhibitions such as Henry Moore's of 1972. After restoration and safety works, since 2013 it has hosted international contemporary art exhibitions.
Highlights
- Terraces and ramparts with views over Florence and the hills
- Buontalenti's five-bastioned star plan
- Medici palazzina with the armoured strongroom of the treasure
- Final stage of the Corridoio Vasariano
- Contemporary art exhibitions outdoors and in the palazzina
- Operated by
- Comune di Firenze – Musei Civici Fiorentini
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5young people aged 18 to 25 and university students |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s. Access to the ramparts is forbidden for children under 8; the palazzina and terraces are accessible to under-12s only with an adult. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for visitors with disabilities and their companions. |
| Visit to the current exhibition and activities (non-residents of the Città Metropolitana di Firenze) | €8 |
| Visit to the current exhibition and activities (residents of the Città Metropolitana di Firenze) | €4 |
Free admission: 24 June (Feast of Saint John) for residents of the Città Metropolitana di Firenze.
Free admission for residents of the Città Metropolitana di Firenze, holders of the Card del Fiorentino, under-18s, student groups with teachers, tourist guides, journalists and members of ICOM, ICOMOS and ICCROM. Tickets also online at ticketsmuseums.comune.fi.it.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Guide dogs for blind or partially sighted people are admitted; assistance dogs and therapy animals only with certification, to be sent to musei.civici@comune.fi.it at least 15 days in advance.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 8+
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
Access to the ramparts is forbidden for children under 8; the palazzina and terraces are accessible to children under 12 with an accompanying adult.
Getting there & parking
The fort stands on the Boboli hill, in the Oltrarno, behind Palazzo Pitti and the Giardino di Boboli.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The ramparts are forbidden to under-8s; minors aged 8 to 18 are allowed in with an accompanying adult. |
|---|
