Museo di Palazzo Vecchio
The seat of Florence’s government for over seven centuries, with Renaissance halls, the Salone dei Cinquecento and the Torre di Arnolfo.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Palazzo Vecchio, also known as Palazzo della Signoria, has been the seat of the government of Florence for over seven centuries. The building was constructed at the end of the 13th century as the residence of the priors of the Florentine Republic, and it faces the monumental Piazza della Signoria. The Torre di Arnolfo, tall and unmistakable, dominates the city’s skyline.
In the 16th century the palace became the residence of Cosimo I de’ Medici, who had it transformed and decorated by Giorgio Vasari and other artists. The halls were frescoed with stories and allegories celebrating the family and the power of the duke. The halls of the first and second floors are decorated by artists of the 15th and 16th centuries and house masterpieces such as Donatello’s Giuditta, Bronzino’s paintings in the Cappella di Eleonora and Michelangelo’s Genio della Vittoria.
Beneath the palace are the remains of a Roman theatre, which can be visited on dedicated routes when the area is open. Today the Museo di Palazzo Vecchio allows visitors to see the monumental halls, including the Salone dei Cinquecento, the ducal apartments and the oldest rooms, while part of the palace continues to house municipal offices.
Highlights
- Salone dei Cinquecento with Vasari’s frescoes
- Michelangelo’s Genio della Vittoria
- Donatello’s Giuditta
- Cappella di Eleonora decorated by Bronzino
- Torre di Arnolfo and wall walk with a view over Florence
Permanent exhibition
- Sale monumentali e appartamenti del Museo di Palazzo Vecchio – Salone dei Cinquecento, ducal apartments and rooms decorated by artists of the 15th and 16th centuries.
- Founded
- 1299
- Operated by
- Comune di Firenze – Musei Civici Fiorentini
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €18 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €12Young people aged 18 to 25 and university students |
| Children & teens | –Free admission to the museum for children under 17; the tower price for children is not stated. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and their companions. |
| Students & apprentices | €12University students with reduced fare. |
| Groups | –Guided groups may have up to 25 people, guide included; secret routes are limited to 10 people. Free admission for school groups with teachers. |
| Torre di Arnolfo – standard | €20The reduced ticket costs €13. |
| Card del Fiorentino (365 days, for residents of Florence and the Città metropolitana) | €10 |
| Firenzecard (72 hours from first use, with priority access) | €85 |
| Visit to the archaeological excavations (Saturday and Sunday at 12:00 and 12:45) | €5Maximum 15 people, booking mandatory. The archaeological route is currently closed. |
The section “Tracce di Firenze” on the ground floor can be visited free of charge. Free admission also for tourist guides and interpreters, journalists and employees of the Comune di Firenze. Online tickets at bigliettimusei.comune.fi.it.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Access is via the side entrance on Via dei Gondi. A lift with a 75 cm wide door is reserved for visitors with mobility difficulties, and two wheelchairs are available free of charge at the cloakroom. The mezzanine, the wall walk, the tower and some teaching rooms are not accessible.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
Guided tours for adults and children and birthday parties are offered at the museum. For schools, booking is free and mandatory (+39 055 0541451, didattica@musefirenze.it).
Getting there & parking
Ticket office in the Cortile della Dogana.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Coat check
Free cloakroom (umbrellas, backpacks and large bags must be left here), bookshop on the ground floor and multimedia space on the second floor. The café is temporarily closed.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (IT, EN, FR, DE, RU, ES) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Multimedia guides can be rented at the InfoPoint on the ground floor, where guided tours are also booked (MUS.E: +39 055 0541450, info@musefirenze.it). The tower and the wall walk are forbidden to children under 6; minors under 18 must be accompanied. They are not recommended for people with heart or respiratory conditions, vertigo, claustrophobia or reduced mobility. |
